Kate - That is great!!!  I'm constantly asked Stage What??? I'd say even half of the realtors hear have not heard of staging.  But I keep plugging away.

Will be interesting to see by the end of 2007 where staging is.  I am glad I am getting in on the start of what I think is going to be a big industry.  I was at a party last night and while no one knew what home staging was once I explained they all nodded that they now knew what I was talking about.  Now if only one of them would move!

Hi Kate,

I am aware that people in my area are beginning to understand what it is but, at the same time, are curious about what it actually entails.  EDUCATION is key for 2007....we have to make certain that the general public understands how vital it is in today's market; that staging is not something that only people with money can do...that there are all levels of service - something to fit everyone's budget!

Have a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2007!

Hi Val,

 Thanks for your comment. EDUCATION is the key. I actually find that the more I give examples of other areas that home sellers spend $$ on their homes, the easier it for them to justify the investment in staging.

For example, in our business most of our consults are for homes of working, young families that are trying to get more $$ for their starter homes in order to purchase their larger "forever" homes. To these people, a staging consultation makes sense. If they were selling their car they would get it detailed- in our area that detail job would be around $289.00 When they are selling their home which is their most valuable asset they also need to get it detailed so they can get top dollar. For a staging consulation in our area it is $300 (the same a the detailing of a car!) For these families, if they were to go to a movie, go to dinner and get a babysitter for the night they would spend almost the cost of a consultation, so doing the consult makes sense since they can so frivolously spend that much on a Saturday night or on a pair of designer jeans.

Most of the people chosing to do the hands on staging (where we do the work) are older people that are downsizing. These people are already paying for other services- people to clean their houses, people to do their landscaping, people to deliver their drycleaning or groceries so the cost of staging their most valuable asset makes sense since they will use the sale of their home to finance their retirement and our used to paying for services already.

Just like any other service we have to give them the WIFM - what's in it for me. Invest in staging your home and you will sell it faster and make more $$.

True story- I had a consult last week for a young family that is relocating for work. When we were done the husband turned to me and said that he felt much better about getting his home ready for sale and that it now seemed really easy since he has a  plan. He said that he did not understand why other people did not do this since it made so much sense to have a professional give him step by step guidance. I turned to him and said "That is exactly how I feel. If I needed a heart transplant I would go to a cardiologist, not try to do it myself. If you are selling your home, you need the help of a Realtor and a home stager" He smiled and said to me "I understand exactly what you are saying since I am a cardiologist!"

Education is the key and, unfortunately, some of the educating comes in the form of explaining that not all stagers act like the ones portrayed on television....we are kinder, more compassionate and, hopefully, more professional.

Kate this is SOOO great. My children urged me to do this as a business last year because they told me if I did not I would be kicking myself 2 years from now. I think they were absolutely right. I was at a home the other day meeting with a client when her realtor called to see if "the stager" had been there yet. I never met the realtor, just the client and that is how I got the job. I truly do believe that more and more realtors know they need to do something after last years sluggish market. The one thing that I do feel that clients are still not willing to pay for is the cost of 3 mths rental furniture. What are your thoughts on that?

When I started my business, I did not have the word staging anywhere because no one knew what that was, now I am in the process of adding Home Staging, NJ to the end of my company name. WOW, this is really great.

Continued success and a very Happy New Year!

Phyllis pafumi

Kate---As I stated in a recent blog, it was quite refreshing to be watching a movie where the lead character found herself in a new career.  They didn't use the term "staging"....but rather described it as decorating houses for resale.  It was refreshing to see this profession validated in a positive way. 

The cashier at Michael's commented on the amount of silk plants I was purchasing so I explained that I was a home stager and needed them for my inventory.  She said she had heard about home staging but had never met one and then asked for my card.  As I handed it to her, I asked if she was planning to sell her home in the near future.  She said, "No, I don't want to hire a home stager...I want to be one!"  That never would have happened 3 years ago.  

Kate I am commenting again on this blog because I cannot believe what is happening in my neck of the woods. My phone has not stopped ringing and it seems that realtors and sellers alike KNOW they need to STAGE if they want to sell their house. I am having waaay tooo much fun!

Staging has hit!!

Phyllis pafumi

Slowly but surely! Mainstream Staging is here :) Kate, you have done a great job educating others. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge and great information.

Oh Kate I hope you're right, in NH we need so much education here. I want to shout from the rooftops.

Kate and fellow stagers--please help me to at least blog my way in to this NH real estate world???

Kate- This is encouraging. We here in the Northeast are still out there sharing with realtors about the benefits of home staging. I feel that it is a perception problem though. They all say they know what it is, but they are not jumping on the opportunity that stands in front of them. As the success of Home Staging grows I believe their eyes will be opened!