I GOT TAKEN FOR A RIDE AND I WAS NOT EVEN IN A CAR

Mary Lou: What a DEAL you offered him! If you did not know that he was legitimate, I'd say perhaps he was fishing for his own or a friends staging business. I get these calls A LOT. I've learned to recognize them - but not always.

It's very rare that I give bids over the phone now because my staging is customized and I need to see and feel the place to determine what would work there. Everyone has their own business model that works for them and going forward you need to decide what that is for you and stick to it without apologies - just my two-cents.

Hi Mary Lou!

I am not giving estimates on the phone most of the time. I did a condo rush last week, I gave the estimate on the phone after they sent me the blueprints, so this way I was aware of the size, windows, purpose of each room, and being a condo I did not have to worry about curb appeal. It went well though.

Normally I charge for a "look and see" and refund the consultation fee if hired for the job. This way I am compensated for my time if I do not get the bid.

But Mary Lou, look at how much gasoline you saved yourself!

At least you didn't waste your time driving to the house and preparing a formal bid. Like Monica, depending upon circumstances, I charge a fee to drive out and look at a property. If they hire me to stage, I deduct that fee from the staging fee (does not apply to consultations).

Sounds like this guy is very unrealisting. Good riddance.

I agree with Michelle....you didn't have to waste a trip.  The fee you quoted....by the standards here is like doing it for next to nothing!  If someone has a "reasonable" budget in mind I tell them I can work with their budget....we will cut back the staging...."Where shall we reduce?".  Most will see that I don't cut my rates!  Be glad you didn't get stuck with this jerk!!!

I tend to agree with every one. You will find out what works for you. I have given general low to high estimates over the phone. If I'm asked to do a walk through I charge but when I get the contract it becomes part of the whole package. I found that if they had a free walk through all they did was pump me for ideas and then not use my services.

So Mary Lou, I think you'll find we all took a ride in that car at one time or another ;)!

Put this behind you and move forward. :-). I know, easier said than done.  

Do know the feeling. Just watched a vacant property we bid on (go on the market). Client did not want to spend the funds. 2 months later a 50K price reduction. 2000K in staging would have sold that property.

No matter how we explain it. Most just don't understand (or can't see) the ROI in advance.

Aloha Mary Lou,

Sometimes people want something for nothing, but that doesn't mean they are going to get or that youre the one to give it to them. Have faith in your business acumen and instincts and don't take it personally.

Peace,

Mary Lou - This was obviously a one-time or small "flipper" without real knowledge  of the business. I saw that a lot in the past, but thankfully the economy has "weeded" many of those out. Most people that are doing this now have more a more professional approach and would therefore appreciate your services.  Put it behind you, and keep staging! :)

Hey Mary Lou, I'm sure you will eventually get a flipper who will appreciate your services.  Most of my work now is with property investers.  The good ones know what sells a house and they update the fixtures, colors etc.  I can't say that of some homeowners that I have worked with.

I'm realizing that there hobby flippers and professional flippers...sound familiar?

Mary Lou...a simular thing just happened to me and I will be posting shortly. I have found that the better "deal" you offer them, the less they value the service!

Mary Lou,

Sorry that this happened to you however I agree with what everyone has said so far - you saved yourself the time and gas money!

We have this happen to us from time to time. Its common for sellers not to see the big picture and list their homes vacant only to have to do a whopping price reduction in a month. Comparing that to a significantly smaller investment in staging and the knowledge that the staging would ensure that the home wasn't still on the market in six months seems like a no brainer. Sadly, many still don't "get it". So all we can do is continue to educate and advertise all the sellers who did "get it" and who have awesome success stories to boot!

Something to consider as well: flippers tend to spend all their money on fixing up the house so that when it comes time to staging we get whatever's left. Its sad but we've dealt with that time and again. One excellent flipper that we work with puts aside a certain amount - at the beginning - as we do a walk through first to develop a staging plan. This also helps him re-define areas in the house which otherwise might have been overlooked or forgotten. This flipper sells his homes everytime within days of staging & listing! 

That man is a fool.  To turn down staging for that little money!!!!!!!!!

Maybe he's trying to figure out what to pay his sister or girl friend to stage it.

I am a Stager who has been in business for 8+ years now. I have seen this industry evolve and it will continue to do so. As a CSP Elite Trainer for Realtor's, our goal is to ensure that we(Stagers) are Professionals and recognized as so within the Real Estate Industry. We are past the point of working pro bono and undervalueing our services. If we don't think we hold value, why would anyone else!

Mary Lou,

Sometimes life throws us lemons! This guy was a REAL TIGHT WAD of a lemon!  Your better off that this job didn't come through.  Although you were more than generous in your proposal, there may have been other negative items about the property that you couldn't have seen in the photos that may have been more trouble than it was worth.  Chalk it up to a lesson learned, because it can only make you wiser the next time around!  

Mary Lou.. Your price was indeed a bargain!..  But this conversation has got me to thinking about the so-called "Vignette" staging.. Can any of you direct me to photos of property that has been staged this way?.. I ask because I recently had two very different experiences with this concept..  And I'm not convinced that it works...

I am also going round and round about giving estimates over the phone. Obviously this can save you a lot of potentially wasted time, BUT it is often the "face-to-face" that wins over the client.