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What is in a Name? - I think it matters!

By Marla Hofstee

Home Stager with Design by Marla

February 19, 2008 02:58 PM

I was recently talking to a man from Sweden. He asked me what I did and I told him I was a Home Stager and gave him my "30 second elevator speech". He said in Sweden they are called "stylists".

Do they call them stylists anywhere else? I like the name. The name has a more creative feel than home stager. To me, "Home Stager" has a "work horse" feel to it. Stylist implies creative transformation but home stager implies furniture mover/rearranger.

Don't get me wrong? I understand all of the different hats that "stagers" have to wear. I'm looking at the public perspective.

Here are the definitions according to Webster:

Stager

Main Entry:

stag·er

Pronunciation:

\ˈstā-jər\

Function:

noun

Date:

1570

: an experienced person : veteran

Main Entry:

styl·ist

Pronunciation:

\ˈstī-list\

Function:

noun

Date:

1795

1 a: a master or model of style; especially : a writer or speaker who is eminent in matters of style b: a person (as a writer or singer) noted for a distinctive style2 a: a person who develops, designs, or advises on styles b: hairstylist

Now, I did not touch-up these definitions- these are the from the dictionary. I think that the Webster definition of "stylist" is a better example of what we do? What do you think? Should "home stagers" try a new name?

Marla

Design by Marla

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Melissa Marro

Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL

Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Interesting idea. The issue is that people are at least somewhat familiar with the term 'stager' now. It seems to change the title would mean having to additionally educate agents/public. I do think if your market isn't fully caught on to staging then it could be a possibility.

Feb 19, 2008 03:04 PM

Marla Hofstee

Design by Marla - Burbank, CA

Design by Marla- Home Staging, Burbank & Los Angeles, CA

Melissa,

I still meet a number of folks who do not know what a home stager is! It's surprising to me.

Feb 19, 2008 03:10 PM

Doug Jones

Mortgage Magic - San Jose, CA

Mortgage Broker - NMLS 286668

I like stylist, most people feel better coming from their personal stylist, why shouldn't a home

Feb 19, 2008 03:37 PM

Michelle Minch

Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA

Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Marla: There are some that call themselves "property stylist" or "real estate stylist". The problem is that, while not everyone knows what a stager is, there are are many who do, thanks to HGTV and the like. You will be spending a lot of energy reinventing the wheel. I'm not sure that what you would get out of it would be worth all the energy you'd have to expend to go against the flow.

Feb 19, 2008 04:21 PM

Josh Perrington

Arkshire Financial - Marietta, GA

Hey Marla! Although the term Stylist is creative, I would have to say stick with Home Stager. Stick with Stager, but have your tagline emphasize the stylist aspect. Ex: Your personal home stylist... Something like that.

Just my 2 cents... :o)

Feb 19, 2008 09:40 PM

Tracy Moses~Redefining LUXE~Staging ~ Decorati

Redefining LUXE - Mount Pleasant, SC

I have heard other terms used for staging that I do seem to like better, and the word stylist is nice. In our area, Realtors and home owners in general know the term stager now and that in itself is huge marketing and helps to not have to explain what we do upon meeting them.

Feb 19, 2008 10:16 PM

Yvonne Root

rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ

Home Stager - Northern Arizona

This is one of the topics which comes up every once in a while. I believe it has to do with the fact that so many of us don't like the word "stage" for various reasons. There are two problems with the changing of the word as I see it 1) people are beginning to recognize the term and have at least a vague idea of what it means in terms of preparing a house for sale. 2) my SEO depends on it and I simply don't want to start over on that little puppy. Oh yeah, here is one more thing I'll add to the mix. 3) When we first opened our doors (not liking the word "stage") we tried to use the word "stylist." Almost every time I said, "I'm a home stylist," the person I was talking to thought I meant I styled hair in people's homes. Are you kidding? I have a hard time figuring out which end of the brush to hold when I attempt to do something with my own mane. If you try it and it works Marla, let us know.

Feb 19, 2008 10:27 PM

Julea Joseph

Reinventing Space - Chicago, IL

Julea Joseph House Stager - Reinventing Space

Hi Marla,

I've been using Interior Stylist since 2002, and have a site www.interiorstylist.org.

Feb 20, 2008 12:11 AM

Oops - Here's my card. Front & Back

Card

Feb 20, 2008 12:16 AM

Doug- Thanks for your vote for stylist!

Michelle- You are right. More people know what a home stager is.

Josh- I like your idea about using "stylist" in my tagline- I'll have to work on that.

Feb 20, 2008 01:41 AM

Elaine Manes Gage

Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO

Staging done ONLINE!

Marla- I agree that there is certainly more a sense of what we do, with the word "stylist". I think it should be a personal choice, and whatever makes you stand out from the crowd, is a GOOD thing!

Feb 20, 2008 05:27 AM

Marci Toliver

438-4642 - Mauldin, SC

Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging

Tanya and I use property stylist on our cards!

Feb 20, 2008 05:35 AM

Tracy- Yes, I agree stylist is nice but stager is better recognized. Hmmm.

Yvonne- You're funny. I'm sure your hair looks wonderful! : ]

Julea- I like Interior Stylist. Can I borrow it?

Feb 20, 2008 07:21 AM

Marla,

Only if you become one of us - It's Service Marked - Look at my blog to join our network - http://activerain.com/blogsview/379197/Got-What-it-Takes

JJJ

Feb 20, 2008 07:47 AM

Julea- Good thing I asked. I didn't realize that you had registerred the name. I will look at your blog. Thanks!

Feb 20, 2008 08:02 AM

Thanks Elaine- Having a unique identity and standing out from the crowd is what it is about- isn't it?

Marci- I like property stylist also.

Feb 20, 2008 03:33 PM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

I guess from my name you can say that I like both: HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC I covered both !!!!

Mar 02, 2008 09:57 AM

What is in a Name? - I think it matters!

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