I got that phone call AGAIN today. This time it was a builder rather an agent, but the context of the phone call was the same.
You know that phone call- the one where the person on the other end who has never met you, seen your portfolio, visited your website, or read your blog, but wants to help you grow your business through the incredible amount of exposure they can offer you - if you will stage their property for FREE. Really, it would be funny if they were kidding, but they never are. Sometimes they will not even come out and say it, which is incredibly aggravating.
I don't know about you, but I find these phone calls to be outright offensive. That's right, OFFENSIVE!!!
Can you imagine if I were to call a builder I've never met and say, 'I want you to build me a house. As a matter of fact, I want to write a blog about it and post it on my site - it does receive national attention, you know. Considering the exposure that offers you, I think you should do it for free.' How long would it take for them to hang up on me?
Or what if I called an agent who had no clue who I am and said, 'I want you to list my house. I know a lot of people and I could bring you in a lot of business if you do a good job. If you waive your commission, I will recommend you to all of my family and friends. That's a lot of exposure and an incredible opportunity for you.' Would they start laughing immediately or wait until after they said no?
The funny thing is, a lot of the time these callers refer to the fact that they have talked to another stager, but didn't like them. Most likely that stager turned them down, too. Sometimes they say they have worked with an interior designer in the past, but find the concept of staging fascinating and want to give it a try. Chances are they would not even THINK of approaching that designer with such an idea and are hoping I am desperate enough to believe it can be to my benefit. My favorite ones are the type that say they usually stage their own listings, but want to give me (the person they do not know) the incredible opportunity of having my name on the flyer as the designer - they are so generous and all. I think the reality is that they have realized it is a bigger job than they can handle or have time for and need someone else to do it for them - but don't want to pay them.
Think about it. Do you suppose that they have approached their inspector with this offer? Or any subcontractor? Absolutely not, because they know they would get laughed into the next county. Why? Because they respect these people as professionals and recognize that these careers are their livelihood.
Professional Stagers deserve the same respect. We offer staging services as a BUSINESS and take our jobs very seriously - just like they do. As business owners, we have overhead and other clients - just like they do. Offering our services for free will not only take time away from our paying clients, but will also have a negative effect on our bottom line, no matter how much 'exposure' it would offer. Considering that two feature articles in our local newspapers have not produced much work for me, how can they guarantee that putting my name on their flyer or putting my business cards in their listings will?
No, I prefer to build my business the old fashioned way. I provide quality service at a reasonable price. Those who truly recognize the value of my service are willing to pay me for it - just like they are willing to pay builders and Realtors for what they do. If I start giving my services away for free, others will expect it as well. Can you afford that?
I do believe that these people know deep down that staging is the way to go, but do not yet take our industry seriously and want to take advantage of our 'newbie' status. Well, let me be the first to tell you that I DO take the industry and my business seriously and ask that those who request my services do the same. I'm sure I speak for stagers all over the country in saying that we are smart business people and just because the industry is green, it doesn't mean that we are.
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