I have been doing this for over four years now. When I first started and I told people that I was a Professional Stager I never failed to get the following response. "Oh that's nice". I would wait a few seconds and then say, "you don't know what that is do you?" They would smile and say sorry, no I don't. I would then would say my usual elevator message "When you are ready to sell your house we come in and make it look fabulous so you will make lots and lots of money". They would then smile and say oh I've heard of that. It looks like such fun!
I don't get into very many conversations like that any more. 9 out of 10 people I run into now a days know what a Professional Stager is and usually say something like this..."my sister's best friend does that a couple of times a month...or my mom does that part-time...or my daughter's teacher does that during the summer months." I usually control myself and say that's nice and move on, but lately that is getting hard to do, as I seem to be running into that more and more. What I really want to say is "no, I am a Professional Home Stager. What your friend, sister or mom does is called a hobby stager. Not the same thing by a long shot.
Definition of a Professional Home Stager
We work 40 plus hours a week - during the busy season that number can reach 80 easy
We are educated in our trade
We own our own inventory - and I am not talking about 1 sofa that I steal from my living room
We are fully insured
We have a full website that is active and ever changing
Our business is self-sustaining - we pay our bills with the money we make
We live, breath, walk, talk, staging
We spend of time on our business not just at our business
We are professionals...just like the Realtors we serve.
I wish Realtors would remember that next time they call and want to get a quote on the phone to compare it to 10 other stagers who they will call that day including hobby stagers. If it is just a cheap price you want, then tell me so at the beginning of the phone call. Please don't waste my time and the other Professional Stagers who who you want to come out to an empty house in the middle of nowhere to pick our brains. If you really want a vacant house "staged" for $200.00 call Aunt Lucy. Hope you like doilies.
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