A new Avenue... Staging Rental Property. UPDATE!!!

Lori - I am glad you posted this.  A few months ago I came across an article written by a rental agent who was promoting home staging to investors in order to attract renters.  I wanted to do a post on this subject so I emailed him for permission to reprint his article.  I never heard back so I didn't do anything.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the fellow and am unable to locate the email I sent to him or I would pass it along to you.  I am pleased to see that someone in the staging industry has come across this opportunity.

Lori, Very interesting blog. You have my mind racing with the potential avenue of rental property.

 And I , like Kathleen, have noticed a large increase in the "rent to own" homes advertised. Maybe 2 avenues that can benefit from home staging. Thanks

Yes, it definitely has crossed my mind to stage high end rental properties. But even at $6000 per month for rent, I don't see any responses to that since the home owners don't feel that it's the most cost effective method for them. Maybe I am just not doing a good job to convince them!

Cindy 

Hi Lori, do you think that staging for a rental is different from staging for sale?  I can't think of a difference off the top of my head.  Anything we can do to help houses look their best fits our "Hypocratic Oath" as far as I'm concerned!

Here, we have had sellers "switching to a rental" for a long time.  It's a bit of a hornet's nest, though.  Often, when the lease is over, the cost of repairs eats into any appreciation.  I got called in last fall to fix and stage a home coming off leasefor the same reason, only to watch the homeowner over price the thing AGAIN, have it sit there for a year and it's STILL not sold!!

I dunno, Lori, it all comes down to price.  Always does.  Waiting it out vs. taking the hit?  Are we pandering to "wishful thinking" vs. adding "the spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down"?

Lori,

Great for you!!!  It just shows that most of us Stagers wear all kinds of hats, are very inventive and are willing to do that it takes to get the jobs done (and of course keep the clients happy!)

Nice work :)

Beth 

Lori Kim - How did I miss this post the first go-around?  What a great way to extend your services.  And...congratulations on getting offered to be flown to LA.  Not surprising since you're one of the best staging professionals I know (smile).

Kathy

That's so cool! It's great to hear about the updates.

Cheers,

Cindy 

Lori: Way to go! Thank you for the update!  What a wonderful testimony to add if you decide to start marketing "staging to rent/lease"
on your services menu!

I'd love to see your work after you fly to LA and complete that project!  

HI Lori, just found this post- very interesting and yes what a new market we have. I belong to a referral network and I got offered a job to a spec builder that wants me to give him a consultation on furniture placement using his blue prints.  This is new to me too. The architect gave me the referral.

He is thinking about renting the property out since the market is correcting so this is my idea. I will charge him for a consultation- and tell him that I will credit it back and apply it after the home is built and he can hire me to stage it for the rental.

It never ends what we can do with staging. The market is great for our talents.

Kathy