Thanks for this post. It was very helpful!

The same reason sellers think a buyer will show up who loves their totally-wallpapered-carpeted-in gold-shag home.

DENIAL!

That takes care of sellers.  Realtors...probably because they don't know there's a local track record for staged homes.

Just IMHO.

Value. It always comes down to value. You need to show agents that your homes sell quicker. Show them the money saved on print advertising! I say pick the top agents and the brokers at each office and give them 1 free consultation. Ask them to critique your work on a feedback form. You will get more business once they see the value.

Karen, Yes, homeowners think their abode is wonderful and that buyers will fall in love with it.  After I rearrange the furniture, though, they often say, "The room is so much more functional, I should have had you come when we moved in."

Geordie,  I do get repeat business from Realtors so they do see the value.  They just need to spread the word.  Free consultations to the top-dogs may be the answer.  Thanks for the advice.

Heidi- I think the top-dogs look at ROI when other agents just see an extra expense. Since 20% are doing 80% of the business, why not focus your efforts on wooing the 20%?

Heidi, I believe that it has to do with the level of desperation with the home owner and the fact that such a much higher percent of homes are now vacant than ever before.  Someone that owns a vacant home, simply means that they are paying the carrying costs of two residents.  The one they left and the one they actually reside in.  If this won't raise your blood pleasure and your level of desperation, I don't know what will.  Taking that one step further, desperate people have a tendency to be more flexible in their thinking.  Trust me, many of the people that believe in staging today are ones that were born out of a desperate situation or ones that were smart enough to see a desperate situation coming.

Hi again Geordie.  Thanks for more words of advice.  Wooing the 20% may be the answer to helping 80% of the market!

Hi Gary.  Desperate sellers comprise much of my client base and they are not desperate long since their houses sell in 2-3 months after being staged.  Thanks for the comment.

Heidi- Glad to see you posting!  I just referred someone to you for a condo in Grand Rapids...and it's a vacant. ;)

Hi Kimberly.  Thanks for the referral.  I just checked out your home page and I love your logo.  Happy Staging!!

I think a lot of realtors are close minded and don't see the value in something like this. Perhaps try advertising your services on craigslist and offer a discount for first time customers to draw them in.

Thanks for the comment Aaron.  I agree, show them the results and they will eventually see the value.  The "eventual" is the hard part!  One positive here in West Michigan is that we stagers are on the leading edge of what hopefully will become a trend.

Many people still don't understand staging.  They think it's simply clearing up and cleaning, but we all know it is more than that.  You would think with the all of the real estate shows on HGTV and other channels that the concept would be understood, but it isn't.

As long as people think that they can read an article about how to stage your own home in 10 easy steps and have it showplace ready in a day or so, the resistance will be there.  It's still an education process for REA's and homeowners.

Pam, People ask me what I do for a living and when I respond, I more often than not, get a puzzled look.  After I explain home staging, most respond, "I sure have seen lots of homes that need it!".  It's all about educating the public and the Realtors.

Part of the problem is that a few "stagers" in West Michigan have been "staging" without understanding that there is a psychological art and science behind home staging.  They think home staging is interior design (placing way too many or too large of furnishings in a home) or merely cleanig and decluttering.  I cringe when I see these homes because I know they are giving Realtors and the public the wrong impression of what staging truly is.  Again, education is the key!

I believe that many people think that a stager brings in all of their own furnishings and makes it impossible for the owners to live in the home. We work with our clients to help them understand that staging can happen with oftentimes their own furniture. Sometimes all a home needs is some cleanup, rearranging of furniture, and normally a de-cluttering.

Heidi, there are a lot of people using the word "staging" to describe what they do and sometimes it isn't even close.  There is a "stager" who is probably more of a contractor doing a lot of carpeting and painting jobs for homeowners in the area and charges quite a lot.  When it comes to doing furniture placement and accesorizing he seems to lose interest and the results are uneven and sometimes bizarre.  I have been called in at lease three times since February to complete what he has started.  Gives us a bad name.

Thanks for responding, Geoff.  Yes, it often comes down to misconceptions as to what staging really is.  We are here to help, not to make their life miserable!

Pam, Amen!  If we could only show them what TRUE staging is all about.  We stagers will stick together to get the word out.  I wish there were more TRUE stagers in my area to help.  I can't do it alone but I can make a difference one small step at a time.  Thanks for sharing!

Heidi, great post, I was just having a similar conversation as what we are having here with a Realtor this morning, I don't understand why more of them aren't suggesting staging to ALL of their customers, if the home is staged its a win win for both the homeowner and the Realtor...as we all know the house sells quickly and for more money...I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!

Heidi,  I just read three new articles about selling your home and the writer quotes several REA's who all say, "...and you could try staging..." It is said without much conviction.  I think that if the REA's see that one house has sold using staging then they may chalk it up to luck or coincidence.  Two or three times might give them something to thin about.  A dozen might make them believers!  If their peers in the office are enthusiastic they will get on board.  We just have to keep on spreading the word, one house at a time.

Heidi,  Educating both realtors and homeowners will be long process ... but we have to keep at it to get the word out about the power and benefits of staging!  I recently staged a home where the listing agent admitted that in her 32 years as a broker, she didn't think staging was necessary.  After convincing the seller to hire me to stage his property, which had been on the market for months, it sold within a week.  That particular agent is now a "convert" but we have so many more to convince!  I think it will be a never-ending process -- but worth every single person who sees the light.

Hi Heidi - With those prices, I'm surprised you don't have them lined up at your door!  I have a niece in MI trying to sell her home, so I know how it is in your state. 

My market is saturated with home stagers and real estate agents who practice staging their own listings.  With all the self-help staging books and HGTV and A&E home staging programs, many sellers and agents feel they have it covered.  After seeing their work, whether they do or not have it covered is a matter of opinion. 

Joan Inglis, ASP, IAHSP Charlotte, NC chapter president

Heidi, It is the same old thing here in Ohio for the most part.  While there are a few REA's who "believe" in staging....they still are not recommending that the homeowner hire a professional home stager.  Why?  Again, the same old....here is a "LIST" of "STAGING" tips.....!  I am all about tip sheets but, please....these folks are missing one of the most important keys....HOMEOWNERS CANNOT BE OBJECTIVE!  Without the ability to look at a space and say "this isn't working"...it doesn't matter how many "tip sheets" they are given....it just won't be effective!  Sharing your frustration....!

In some respects the idea that homeowners can truly stage their home is the same as thinking someone could ride a bicycle the first time without falling down after reading a book about it.  They may manage to go along for a while without falling-if they are lucky- but it is all about balance and practice.

I get what you mean in terms of home owners trying to do it themselves because they just watched a show on HGTV and think that translates to professional experience.

Heidi - you said "a few "stagers" in West Michigan have been "staging" without understanding that there is a psychological art and science behind home staging." Due to the fact that the staging industry is an unregulated one, what would you recommend for someone starting up a new staging business to do to ensure that they aren't lumped in with the "stagers" you refer to? I see so many courses you can take, all kinds of money you can pay to start your own staging business and I'm just not sold that it translates into an instant business for just anyone!

What advice would you give someone looking at starting up their own staging business? How would you recommend someone get experience and begin to make a name for themselves?

Thanks,

Heather

I use a stager often for my listings. It is important to understand that home staging is not just placing table & chairs to fill up empty space, but to enhance a quality, value and charactor of home. If you do it right, it will bring a great value and success to your listings.

 Enrico Pozzo, Coldwell Banker Bain: Seattle Condos, Lofts, Houseboats and all Seattle Real Estate Listings

Hi Heidi, I'm fascinated by your mentioning the psychological dimension of staging.  That aspect is probably far more important than many of us realise. 

Here in MN we are still heavily into the education phase on Home Staging . I teach a class about staging to Realtors for their continuing ed credits. While the class in in session they get it - I think they forget after. There is also a real fear in presenting this to their sellers that they have trouble overcoming. 

We just keep teaching and showing and working. The funny part is that the majority of my work comes directly from homeowners.