It takes two hours to add a rose or a picture?

Or am I missing something?

ANd why does she want red?  Is it some feng shui thing or something?

Why not bill her for the exact amount of time you work? She is obviously happy with your work because she uses you often. If she doesn't specify exactly what she is looking for ahead of time, but throws it in at the last minute, I would start billing her after the job is complete. She doesn't work for free and neither should you. Either that or start carrying red decor in your trunk. 

I would be sure to have, on hand, several "red" items.  That way, when she says she wants "red", all you have to do is say "Which one?"  I have to agree with Karen...why 2-4 hours?  If she is such a great client, I would appreciate the business she has given you and forgive/prepare for her quirk.

Karen,

Sorry I was not more specific.  I didn't go into the detail of her reqyests but they do take several hours because they are so very specific and "red".  She thinks red is a happy color and it makes her feel good.  Thanks for your response.

I would let her know how much you appreciate all of the business she has provided. Like you stated above, I would inform her that last minute "add-ons" would need to be logged and billed. Also Paula had a great idea too, bring some red items and say "which one". It seems crazy to take 2-4 hrs to add something red. Besides, I happen to like red in certain applications, but not everyone likes red. I had a client turn down writing an offer on a home that otherwise everything about it she loved, EXCEPT one of the rooms was painted RED.

Good Luck!

Hmm.  I'm still confused as to how it can take that long to put a rose on a tabletop or hang a picture, but then again, I'm not a stager and shoot, I don't spent 2-4 hours on my own house...lol.

Linda, thank you for responding.  Have you had this situation when the specific requests come in after the fact and you bill the realtor that referred you the job and they write you the check for the additional time?  I don't want to say no to my realtor, I don't want to do it for free  and I don't want her to stifle her honest feedback...I want to have some understanding with her that my time is money and it is conducive to her paying me for her requests.  Am I off-base with this?  By the way, one cannot stock the specific red items she wants at any given time...

Karen, for instance, she wants a french poster above the mantle that fits the space and blends with the brick that has allot of red.  That means if I don't have it, I have to shop.  Gas, miles, etc.  It's not one request, but multiple, that require shopping and delivering and final approval.   Thanks for the repsonse! 

Nancy, perhaps you could plan ahead by purchasing a sizable inventory of red accessories for when the REALTOR comes for the photo shoot. Then, you could ask her what, if anything, she would like to add from your inventory before the cameras begin to roll.  It wouldn't take much time or money at that point.  I would compromise on this issue to keep both the homeowner and the REALTOR personally invested in the great work that you do!  Paula has the right idea. 

Roseann, and Paula,  thank you both for responding.  I think my blog is poorly written and I apologize for taking your time.  I don't want to get lost in the "red" requests.  My point is, HOW DO WE GET COMPENSATED FOR REQUESTS AFTER THE JOB IS DONE? 

• Do we state this in contract even though we may be paid by the homeowner and the realtor is making the after the job is done requests? 
• Do we have an understanding with the realtor and bill them by invoice?
• Do we have an understanding and ask them to be paid out of escrow?

THen I'd tell her to get it.  LOL!!!

Sorry Nancy...misunderstood!  Does your original bid include the number of hours that you expect to spend as well as any costs resulting from purchases or rentals?  If so, then if the agent requests additional work, I would do the work and then bill accordingly.   I think, prior to doing this, I would have a friendly conversation to simply tell her that you can't afford to continue to do additional work after the job is done, so you will send her an invoice for the extra time.  I see nothing wrong with this...you are in a business and must conduct it that way.  (By the way....I wouldn't be surprised to see those extra requests dwindle substantially after it costs her!)

Paula, OK!  Thanks.  I appreciate you hanging in there with my sordid story/requests.

Karen, actually you have no idea how close you are to sounding like me!  On the last job, I gave her permission to add the items she wanted because I had already put in twice the hours I had billed.  I'll find out what kind of job she did when I see the phtots on the MLS!  Thanks for responding again and again!

Have a chat with her about her bias for red.  She may just not realize the effort it takes for you to change it.  YES by all means tell her that it is 2 hours more to be billed, is she sure she wants you to change it?  BUT also, I would say if they use your inventory with staging as created by you it is one price, any changes afterward is an hourly fee of $$$. 

One of our local stagers says in her contract "no refunds for creative differences".  This is her opportunity to explain that staging is not about the "stuff" but about how you have chosen, arrange and planned the "stuff" for the home and it's style and personality.  It may not be a red personality and changing it will change the look and feel of the home.  Oh heck, I don't know it's a hard call.  But you should write it in your bid and give her a copy.  Explain you've been able to do it in the past, and that was your gift to her as she's such a loyal and good client, but you can't any longer do it at no fee.  You are sure she'll understand and appreciate that you want to continue to do business with her and provide her excellent service, but you have a staff and expenses to pay for.

Another suggestion you might try is to add a clause like this in your contract:  "ABC Company will swap out, or add, any of the furnishings, but our time will be billed at $xx/hr."  Even though the realtor is not your client, you should give her a copy of the contract and she'll understand that you're serious.  I'd follow Terrylynn's advice and chat with her about it at the same time.

Nancy - she loves you, she trusts you and she gives you big business but she always wants to add things in red? Do you add red in your staging for her all the time so you don't have this issue or even when you add red she still does it?

I have a Realtor who is a huge animal rights person. So, I am not ALLOWED to use anything that even looks like suede, leather, feathers - no circus pictures, no feather pillows etc. Drives me up a tree but she is an A client  - yikes.

I would sit down with your client and go over the facts and explain that you don't get paid for this time and you need to get paid...so if you she has special requests she needs to pay. I bet they stop fast. Kym

Knowing this Realtor, I would make sure that when you are picking accessories, always use red in the colour scheme somewhere that it would work.  That way, when she comes to look at the finished job, you will already be ahead of her and not have to add anything.

Nancy - Perhaps you could let her know as suggested above that you can no longer spend the extra time for free.  The idea of adding red before she gets there is also a good suggestion.  However, perhaps you could preface it with you have recently sat down and took a look at your business module and have found by doing this for ALL of your clients it is not a good use of your time or a great way to run your business.  This way you are not putting her on the spot and referring just to her.  It might be the case of she just hasn't taken the time to realize how much extra work she is causing for you because you have always done this for her.  Let's face it, we have all been guilty of not realizing how much extra effort we have caused someone - at least I have.

Terrylynn, thank you for taking the time to respond.  I really like your approach about having the conversation and I appreciate her business, etc.  Once again, you save the day!

Maureen and Sandra, Ok, you're right...I have to have the difficult conversation.  Gosh, I hate those conversations but I know that it will set the record straight.  This is a very reasonable woman.  I can stock up on red, but sometimes the room does not call for red or color, or, the homeowner has a specific idea and the realtor has another!!!!

Sandra you are right. I don't think she realizes that she is impacting my time by these requests.  She used to call me all hours of the evening unitl my greeting said, "any calls after 6pm will be returned ithe next morning".  Now she tells all her clients I don't work evenings!

Thanks for the input Ladies!

Kym, I do like red and have allot of it and I try to accomodate her need for it, however, if the homeowner is paying and the homeowner has a different idea, and they live in the home, I go with the homeowner, right, wrong or indifferent.  And....you're animal rights client sounds like a real challenge.  Ouch!  Funny, you say, "sit down" with the realtor...I'm lucky if I can have a 5 minute conversation on the phone with them.  They are go-go-go!  But, I get your point...I gotta have the conversation about setting boundaries and fees.  Can you do it for me? :) 

Can't you just add red as part of the staging since you know she likes it and gives you business?

How about -- before you finish the job:  ask her to come have a quick look and if there is anything special she wants so SHE can pick them up.  That way you will have exactly what she wants.

Once she's run around looking for these items she may change her ways.

BTW, who's the professional stager?

Sandra, thanks for responding.  Sure, I can do that and I do for the most part.  I guess the point was not about the color but about her continued requests that cost me time and money and how she and I can come to an understanding that any additional request after the job is complete, costs someone money and it shouldn't be me!  Besides, if it isn't red today, she'll want more green tomorrow.  I'm sorry my blog was misleading.

Virginia,  Thank you for taking the time to write.  My realtor staged all her own properties before she became loyal to me!  So, she feels she knows what's required and she may.  Her focus is the photos.  She really wants them to pop!  I really like your idea of getting her final approval, and that would be great in an ideal world.  The fact is, I see her maybe once every couple of months, although I may do a job a week for her.  Our paths rarely cross, although we do speak on the phone.  I think I just gotta tell her my time is money....

Hi Nancy-

Sounds like she is a bit of a micro-manager or a perfectionist? If so, she will have an additional suggestion for every staging!  I would have to agree that a friendly conversation is needed.  In the beginning you accomodated her, but you certainly would not be able to offer this extended free service to ALL your clients.  Perhaps explain that you will keep her preferences in mind when you stage, but any additional "tweaking" of the staging will be billable to HER at the time the service is performed.

Kathy, right on!  This is the approach I need to adopt.  Thank you.  I don't know if she is controlling or any of those things, but, very interested in the property looking its best and especially in the photos, but most of all, she wants to capture a buyer.  I do want her feedback but don't want to do the work for free.  I like how you simply stated my new rule!

I think I would put together a collection of red stuff and have it ready for her if she brings in a lot of business.

I am a staging realtor - so I see both sides here. No one wants to work for free, but s realtors, it's often difficult to log our hours because the pay comes so far down the road. It's "normal" for us to invest time upfront. It is possible your realtor is just not being conscious of your time and it will probably be worth mentioning to her. Have you asked for particular requests ahead of time? I'm thinking if the rooster art example. Maybe if she has particular ideas in advance she can let you know, so you can include them the first time. And let her know you are happy to hear ideas, etc, upfront, but after the fact will cost her or her client.

We are all getting squeezed from gas prices and living expenses and we need to cover our costs. As a realtor, I am changing how I do business as gas is closing in on $4.60 per gallon in my neighborhood. Explaining to your realtor that you need to cover your escalating costs is natural and part of business.

Good luck.

Randy, thanks!  Will do!

Jessica, thank you for your wise and sage advice.  I will try to stay one step ahead of her with the ideas and will certainly have to remind her that my time is money.  Thanks!

Nancy, it is so much fun seeing all the answers you have received. Thank you for asking the original question because I'm among those who has added to my store of knowledge concerning this issue. I see a slight change coming up in my agreement. :)

Nancy - this is fun reading the comments and your dilemma!  Maybe someone has mentioned this  so I apologize in advance for repeating - she is obviously very loyal - indulge her - humor her!  She loves red and it makes her happy - she makes you happy because you have the job.  Have fun with it - and on the next job explain that gas has had an impact on your business and you have to add a premium for now.  Don't get stuck in the small stuff - make it fun!  And do not buy red stuff - she sounds like she has her own incredible ideas of what and where red should be (smile)!

Yvonne, glad you're having fun and learning.  What's the change you refer to?

Margaret, I know, don't sweat the small stuff.  After my de-clutter gal spent 10 hours in the home, and then I followed with 5 hours for free, which included wheeling junk out of the backyard in a wheel barrow, and then 8 hours of staging, I didn't feel like making 2 more trips to the house like I have, especially over a centerpiece. Know what I mean?  Enough is enough.  Maybe my loyal red realtor shouldn't sweat the small stuff?  Did I say that?  Thanks for your level headed input.

Nancy- I staged a home for a builder friend, and his agent paid for it. They thought the bathroom looked bland, so I bought different towels, drove the 40 minutes to the property and switched out the towels. The Realtor was there, and she mentioned how nice a red pot would look on the stove. I told her that I never staged with cookware, because it did not portray the ambience I was trying to achieve in the kitchen. She repeated how nice she thought it would look, and I looked her square in the face and said "There is no money left in the budget for a pot. If you would like to give me additional funds, I will shop for a red pot". Then she said that maybe I was right, and the pot wasn't necessary. Moral of my story? Tell her flat out that you would be happy to add more to the staging if she is willing to pay for it. Anytime you allow the agent to tell YOU how to stage, it's trouble!