Thats Interesting! It sounds like a long time practice of regimented targeting towards a certain buyers demographic... not necesarily to the style of the home.

I agree with Julianna,  it sounds as if they are trying to target the client or buyer demographics, not accent the home itself.  Is there a good reason for this?  I don't know, maybe that's just the "style" they, the Realtors, like or prefer.  Don't let it bug you, you pleased your client - that's what counts.

Hi Kym!  That's part of our dance, isn't it?  To weave a style that will highlight the house, yet attract a target buyer.  I remember earlier discussions about stagers having a particulat style, so everyone would know  who did  the work...seems like this Realtor wants everyone to know it's HER listing - it's a trademerk look.  Happy Staging!  Julie

EGO! 

Oooh Kym I hear you.  Please just let me do MY job. 

EXACTLY! I am in business to stay in business. Promise I will design the right product for the property. Kym

I Asian really popular in your area? Are there a lot of Asians moving in to this particular area? I staged a house once that drew Asian families, and we had to feng shui it to appeal to this demographic. It's so hard to say, but I can see where your frustration is coming from. You are the expert - period.

Sounds like the stagers they use have a 'look' that they've convinced the L.A.s that it is what will appeal to the most buyers.

Lucky homeowners to have found you!

Kym ~ The old saying is true ... when it's about the furniture style, it's not staging ... it's decorating!  The house is the star and the staging only supports the home's features.  Transitional style works in many homes, but not all!  Don't let what an agent says bother you .. you're confident in your ability.

One can only guess that the other staging company personally prefers that style and is what they purchase.  They probably have told the agents something about this being what really sells and the agents believe the stagers and are loyal (which as you said is not always a bad thing, but then loyal to a fault is well.... sometimes a fault). 

Who knows, maybe after all is said and done you'll convince the agents that you were the one on the game and they'll begin to ask different (i.e. better) questions of their current stagers.  Questions like - why always transitional?

Kym, I'm sure your area is a lot like ours in that there are as many different types of buyers as there are areas of the city.  There is no such thing as one right demographic.  If a stager limits their furnishings to one style, they can only truly increase the marketability of a home that fits that particular demographic.  The only thing that matters is that a stager stays true to what they know is appropriate for each home.  I'm sure if you were to look at this stager's web site, all of their projects will look oddly the same.  Obviously this is not a "Full Service" stager.

I think I have seen some of their listings. Some staging can actually detract from the style of the house. My guess is that they are trying to attract a specific community. They may have read a book once or talked to someone that said, "Always, do this". It is normally best to let the experts do their job.

Some staging companies have also gotten into a rut with their design. One company we talked to wanted to use a nautical theme in every one of their listings. Our client with a high end contemporary townhome almost flipped when the nautical theme was suggested.

Kym - I feel it is the Realtors trying to keep control.  I wouldn't doubt if that is what they like and the favored stagers agreed to do the transitional with a touch of Asian for their properties.  The Realtors are now upset that the homeowners didn't pick their stagers as they are taking it personally as it somehow reflects on them.  You can always explain nicely to the homeowners why you choose what you did - I am sure they would get it.

Kim- I am sure the homeowner is going to love what YOU DO. Are the Realtors trying to sell a style or a house? Please share pictrures of the finished property, can't wait to see.

Staging, decorating what ever handle you want to put on what we do,,,,is always or should be to showcase the house. If you are putting the same slant on every home you work in, eventually your designs will become stagnant. Imagine buyers in a certain place viewing house after house all stamped the same.  I love change and all it can bring with it, if not I would no longer even want to stage/decorate. I would be bored to death.

Just my two cents worth! 

thanks for the comments. Agree, Agree, Agree. When I was looking through the portfolio of the Realtors houses, although beautiful, i was bored and I couldn't focus on the rooms as the furnishings were all the same thanks all!

Kym

Kym,   I agree - it can be frustrating -- I am torn in the opposite direction in that I love transitional style MYSELF and love to buy that style and decorate with it and all the homes I've been hired to stage lately are "old world" or rustic.  However, I feel it is important to stay true to the product -- the home (including its particular style) to show off the home!   

 Well, grit your teeth, hang in there and make your customer happy!  Thanks for the post. -Sheri

What's with the Asian????  I understand your frustation. Sometimes Type A's like to have their usual sources utlitzed since they are comfortable with that and usually think that they know what is best.  I would politely describe that you are doing what you believe best for this particular home and invite feedback from potential buyers - through this agent - after showings begin.  Prove them wrong.

Kym,

They always want the same look because that's what they've always had and they don't want to gamble on something new.

It's kind of like the woman who has the same hairstyle at 40 that she had in high school. 

OK, I don't know if anyone wants to hear this, but I have to say it.

I stage, and I also work in the design world in a traditional capacity, as a decorator. I have to give this spiel all the time, so here it goes.

Decor is just like fashion. Trends come "in" and when everyone in America is clamoring for the same thing, it promptly gets replaced. The most recent and most recognizable trend that has become utterly shunned across all factions is the country look that ruled the 80's. You know it. We all had it. The frenchy blue-gray, the mauve, the oak, the brass. The ducks & geese. The apples. It is so over, and we all know that.

A good gauge is the mobile home industry. When mobile homes start coming out of their factories with these overused elements, it's final rose laid on the coffin as it decends into it's earthly cocoon.

So is going the Tuscan trend. It's heyday has come and it's on it's last leg. It's "all up in" the new mobile homes now, it is so pervasive. People with Tuscan themes in their homes DO NOT want to hear this. I know. I work with a decorator that has embraced all things Italianate. When everyone has it, NO ONE wants it. It's like the Sneetches, with Stars upon Thars.

The next biggie is Asian. I'm selling tons of grasscloth every month. And when everyone in middle-America finally has a Buddah fountain oozing that wierd smoke, this trend, too, will climb in it's rick-shaw and meander gracefully, off into the sunset, like David Carradine in Kung-Fu.

The funky 60's & 70's will be up on deck after that, but with bolder colors. Imagine a psychedelic disco...

Scary colors, darned near screaming, are on the horizon. Anyone seen the lastest Pottery Barn? It's horrific, the colors they are promoting. It's gonna be a rough ride, so grab your sunglasses and hang on to your hat.

Please don't kill the messenger.

Michelle Molinari

Feature This...

www.featurethisdotdotdot.com

Susan that's my ex-mother-in-law to a "T". I believe you are correct!  Kym