It occurred to me today as I was catching up on my blog reading that a large amount of stagers blogs are focused on educating listing agents about the benefits of staging their listings.  That is a GOOD THING and definitely should be something that we all work on as staging to sell is the core of what we do. However, I started thinking that this focus eliminates a large number of other professionals in the real estate industry from utilizing our services to their own benefit.

Here are a few thoughts:

1 Buyer's Agents.  Every new home owner runs into the same problems - what to do with their old stuff in their new house, will their stuff work with this paint, etc.  Make your closing gift something they can really use... help setting up house.  A stager can help them with furniture placement, color selections, organization, or even help them make decisions on how and what to update if they are looking to create some sweat equity. Offering them a few hours of a stagers time to assist them in get these things sorted out can help them settle in faster, make them happier with their home purchase, and even happier with you. 

2. Investors.  There are a lot of design decisions to be made when rehabbing a property. Many times this can be overwhelming when you first start a project.  Bringing in a stager to help in these decisions can make your project easier in the long run as stagers know what buyers are looking for in their respective markets.  Gearing a sale toward the taste of your target market is always successful.  Not to mention once the rehab is complete, your stager can bring in furniture and accessories to give your property an even bigger boost.

3. Builders.  Obviously builders can use stagers to dress their properties for the real estate market, but I don't think most builders are aware of the flexibility a stager can offer them.  The biggest advantage a stager can offer you is that most are in business for themselves and do not require being on staff to work for you.  Paying a stager per project, rather than as a salaried position, can help you maximize your budget. 

If you are staging your listings for the first time, a stager with experience and inventory (or a relationship with a rental company) can take care of all of the staging details for you, taking these responsibilities off of your plate.

If you have been staging your listings for quite a while and carry your own inventory, a stager can work with what you have to give your spec home the marketing edge you need.

Should you find yourself somewhere in the middle, a professional stager can work with you to reach your desired result. They can assist you in building your own staging inventory, or blend their props with yours to augment what you already own.  Building a relationship with a stager you trust can open up even more opportunities for you down the road - it is up to you how effectively you use one.

4. Professional Painters/Handymen.  I have met several professional painters and handymen who have expressed their frustration over homeowners who hire them to complete painting work, but are unprepared to begin due to their inability to choose a color.  Some have even shared stories of completing a project (and working very hard on it) only to be called back to do it all over again because the client chose the wrong color for the job.  Unless you have the ability to choose the paint color for them - and I have not met a painter yet who was willing to do that -bringing in a stager can help alleviate those problems down the road and can actually get your job underway faster.  Some stagers charge so little to choose paint colors that you may consider adding that service at no charge to the client.

5. Property Management Companies.  When looking to introduce a new apartment complex or condo development, having your model condo or apartment staged, you can set yourself apart from your competitors.  Showing your potential renters an empty, unwelcoming space does not differentiate you from anyone else. By showing them how your properties function through staging can give you the edge you need to get your units rented.

Well, that is all I could come up with for now, but I'm sure there are many more ways that a stager can be of assistance to you - even if you are not a listing agent.

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To take advantage of staging services in the Northwest Indiana area, contact Kimberly Wester of Details Staging and Redesign at 219-241-7252.