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Home Stagers and Real Estate Agents - Fun Work and Easy Money!

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

happy workerProfessional home stagers and real estate agents really have the life...they make their own hours and earn a lot of money for doing very little.

 

Home stagers get to shop and decorate other peoples' homes.  They make a lot of money for choosing paint colors and telling sellers to declutter and clean their house.

 

Reat estate agents put a sign in the yard, have an open house, do some paperwork and then collect a big commission check. 

Easy money... 

 

If you are a stager or an agent, you are familiar with this mindset. 

Many people share this opinion.

 

Before I became a home stager, I had no idea how invested and consumed by their job real estate agents can be.  I have witnessed agents going to great extremes on behalf of their clients.

  • They are on call 24/7...evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations.
  • They have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.
  • They feed pets, water plants, take out the trash, move furniture, and provide taxi service.
  • They advise, encourage, and console.
  • They are expected to be able to read minds and tell the future.
  • They spend their own money up front on expenses, which usually are not reimbursed.

too busy

   For all of you who work so hard to earn your commission...you have earned my respect.

 

Oh, and just for the record...

Home Staging, as a business, is no cake walk either.

  • It's extremely difficult to get established within the real estate community.
  • We also have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.
  • We pack and move heavy boxes and move heavy furniture under all weather conditions.
  • We deal with odors, dirt, grease, mold, pet hair, and much worse.
  • More times than not, there are as many unbillable hours as there are billable on a job.
  • Most sellers and many agents don't understand the value of our service or how to use it.

Professional home stagers are very passionate.  We love what we do, but we work very hard for our money.

Easy money?  In both cases...not even close. 

Comments (37)

Barbara Heil-Sonneck
Design2Sell - Atlanta, GA
Home Staging Atlanta

Hi Sharon, yes it might look easy from the outside, but after a "Day in a Realtors or Stagers Life" perception will have changed. Great Blog!

Sep 10, 2010 09:22 AM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Hi Sharon...good points, and right on the money!

I think both professions can thank HGTV for the mis-perceptions! They make it look effortless! (and perfectly coiffed)

Sep 10, 2010 09:55 AM
Kathleen Emhof
Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park and Western New York - Buffalo, NY
Home Staging and Redesign, Experts in Transition

Sharon, I think you points are excellent.  I'd like to re-blog locally and send people from my Facebook fan page in my effort to educate the Buffalo area.  Be prepared for more traffic to your website! ;-)

Great post!

Sep 10, 2010 10:55 AM
Judy Colburn
ProStaged Homes - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Glendora, San Dimas Covina, Home Staging

Sharon - you are too funny. Absolutely correct, but funny. Love your sense of humor

Sep 10, 2010 12:25 PM
Scott Hayes
(512) 786-8300 - Austin, TX
Realty Austin, Broker Associate

Sharon- Getting a seller to agree to staging is an uphill battle. But I don't have to tell you that. What a difference you guys make though.

Sep 10, 2010 01:06 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Roger:  I know you are watching and that is what keeps me on my toes!

Julia:  Good point...lot's of passion!

Maureen:  Unless they see it, they have no idea.  Hopefully this will help.

Lori:  So many real estate professionals go above and beyond for their clients...and just don't receive the appreciation that they deserve.

Cathy:  Two in one house...God Bless You both!!

Patsy:    Shhhh!  Don't give away the secret!

Kathy:   If I only had a dollar for every time someone said to me "oh staging must be so much fun!"

Sep 10, 2010 01:57 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Barbara:  Good point...if people only spent a little time doing what we do...

Joan:  The fact that they don't include the cost of labor on those shows doesn't help either!

Kathleen:  Awesome!

Judy:  Thank you!  LIfe is too short, not to be funny!

Scott:  Thank you for your appreciation of our work!

Sep 10, 2010 02:01 PM
Ana Hitzel
AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA
Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

What a great post Sharon!

I hope it gets lots and lots of views especially from a certain Realtor who told my client that the place was looking great but taking too long to finish, total days to complete the job....2 1/2  (including shopping and photo shoot) after the place had been on the market for 2 years as her listing:)

Ana

Sep 11, 2010 06:00 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

One day I had an agent "shadow" me....her idea not mine....she was amazed at the level of work.  Gave her a new appreciation for what we have to do to support the sale!!

Sep 11, 2010 07:50 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ana:  We all know someone who needs a better understanding of the real estate world.

Kathy:  What a great idea!  I love that it was her idea to do it...smart lady!

Sep 11, 2010 08:29 AM
Marianne Cherico
Interiors by Marianne Cherico - Foxboro, MA
Home Stager -Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Sharon,

I have worn both hats and love this post. It is so important that RE agents and stagers respect and understand each other's challenges. GREAT POST!

Marianne

Sep 11, 2010 02:05 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Marianne:  So true!  Thanks so much!

Sep 12, 2010 04:15 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Oh man when I first read this blog title Sharon I thought you went completely MAD! I just love to remind clients to flush after visiting the loo...it's all in a day's work, huh?

Sep 12, 2010 11:27 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Cynthia:  I am completely MAD and proud of it!

 

Sep 12, 2010 12:49 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Barb:  Glad you could appreciate it.  You are right about the glamorous perception...I had a client tell me that she felt like a movie star was coming to her house and she was so excited.

Sep 13, 2010 05:02 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

David:    Thanks!  All fun and games while the money pours in!  If only...

Sep 13, 2010 09:39 AM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

I have done them both and they both are totally consuming -- I like this post Sharon.  don't forget when the air, the heat or the water isn't running, although we have been assured it would be! YUCK!

Sep 14, 2010 03:02 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Karen:  It just makes the jobs all that more interesting, doesn't it?  Thanks for joining in!

Sep 14, 2010 04:49 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Agents and stagers sure have a lot of additional job descriptions other than the expected.  This one is my favorite, and so so true!  -Kasey

  • We also have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.
May 06, 2017 06:37 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kasey & John Boles  So many hats to wear! LOL

May 06, 2017 06:43 PM