At our IAHSP Convention - I had several ASPs come up and ask me if I really only took 5 hours to Stage a large house, and my answer, was, "Yes."  They were sort of in awe - and I don't want to be thought of as an anomaly - but rather be seen as a guide for other ASPs that want to maximize their efficiency and make more money on Staging projects.  

Of course I am not by myself on these projects, I have one other teammate with me - and we use movers to help us load and unload at the house, which helps things go faster.  But once the movers are done - we normally cut them loose and continue Staging.  So there are always 2 ASPs, and usually 1-2 movers that know how to load and pack a truck.

So I am on a mission to help Stagers become very efficient with their Staging projects so that we are able to get the houses Staged, and keep our maximum profit possible - and not find ourselves taking too many hours to the point where we begin to lose money or work for free.  It all begins with Project Management and having a Staging Plan.  

We learn about having a written plan for our sellers in occupied houses, but I think some Stagers are not translating that skill to their own projects for vacant home staging.  Even for vacant houses, we have to have a Plan - what is going in each room, and then pack up for the project according to what we have planned, and not bring our entire storage units or warehouses on the truck.  Bringing some extra goodies to use in surprise ways allows for creativity, and yet we need to understand that first and foremost, what we have is a business, and our goal is to make a profit on our projects.  This means we need to plan according to the timeframe and budget we have allotted, and really know what we need for the house - so that we don't forget something key, and risk having to make multiple trips to the strorage unit, back to the house, or to a store to purchase a forgotten item.

Believe me, I have been there, done that - and am not perfect with the process, but each time we Stage we look for ways to help things run more efficiently.  Probably the biggest help we began implementing a couple of years ago was the use of a written list of what was going into each room for the Staging.  The List is very specific - right down to the plates, glasses, fabric, etc. that we plan on using in a room for the Staging.  We have the vision in our heads and write down what we need - so that the packing up and loading for the project runs very smoothly.  We do not over pack, and this saves time on the back-end when we head to the warehouse at the end of a project, and all we usually have are empty boxes to put back, not a bunch of un-used decor or furniture.

Here is an example of efficient Staging:

My last Staging project was one where we were rolling the inventory from a fully Staged vacant house to another Vacant property.  So it was a De-Stage followed by a Vacant Stage using full-size furniture that we own.  We started the day at 10:30 AM with loading up boxes and packing up supplies from our warehouse (15 minutes), and then drove about 45 minutes to our first project- - which was to de-stage a house that we had Staged that had sold.  This house had a LOT of furniture and decor inside where we had Staged 5 rooms with full pieces 3 full bathrooms, laundry room, foyer, outside bbq area, and an office.  

We landed at the house about 11:30 AM - and began de-staging the house.  Our 2 movers packed the truck to the gills - and got all the Staging items and furniture inside . . . that took about an hour and fifteen minutes. We departed the house, stopped to get cold water and got on the freeway about 1 PM.   Then we drove to our install that was about 45 minutes away and unloaded the truck, and Staged another vacant property.  We started at about 2 PM with the unloading - and we had our movers drive with us to unload the extras that we were not using for the current Staging project, and even with all the extra trip to our unit (that was close by), we were finished by 4 PM.

Overall time from start to finish - 5.5 hours.
Drive time:  1.5 hours
Loading time:  1.5 hours
Unloading time:  45 minutes
Staging time:  2 hours

HOW do we do it?   It begins with the PLAN and a vision for what is happening in each room.  We do not waste time wondering what piece will go where - we know what furniture is being placed in each room when we first enter the house.  When needed we will make adjustments - such as reducing too many pieces or eliminating unneeded artwork.  This is done quickly and efficiently and items we know we will not use, go back outside to be put back in the truck.

We do begin Staging with accessories that are boxed while the movers are unloading the larger pieces.  We place our art where it is to be hung in each room, and Stage the bathrooms and kitchen counters while the furniture is being unloaded and placed in the rooms.  We are not slow and not running, but we are moving at a fast clip because we have a goal to finish the project by a certain timeframe.  We can inflate the air beds (when we use them) and get the bed Staged, and get the Master bedroom just about completed without the larger pieces even being totally in the house.  We place our trees where we want them to go - and so by the time the furniture is all off the truck, the house is 75% Staged - and we just need to adjust furniture placement, hang the art, and do final touches.

So I want to hopefully help other Stagers understand how to be a Project Manager with their installs - and have a written plan to help act as the project guide. This is very helpful when bringing out other newer Stagers on projects - because they will have direction and can be told what to load up based on what is on the list, etc.

When we get to a house we are Staging, the team knows the target time of completion - and we work towards that goal.  We will share with our movers and any ASP that is part of the team for the project, how much time we are allotting for the project - and that keeps them on track.  When the proposal amount is set, we want to work towards the goal of maximizing profit on the project - and that means we stick to the plan and keep our eyes on the clock.

Our Staging is not stark, or cookie-cutter.  We have new things that we will do in various Staging projects to put a new fresh twist on our Staging, and still relish in the transformation that takes place in a house.  The houses receive rave reviews from our clients who appreciate our attention to detail in the Staging process.

There is not a "magic secret" to being able to accomplish a lot in a shorter period of time - the secret is all about having a Plan, following the Plan, and holding others accountable to the timeframe we have to complete the Staging.  Understanding that you are the Project Manager - and responsible for keeping things on track - will empower you to really take charge with your Staging and help you actually be more profitable.

Work towards that goal if you want to be able to Stage more efficiently, make the most money from your projects, and be able to accomplish more in a day.  When you make some key changes in your business process, you will then be available to do even more Staging projects, or have free time to do what you want and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

- Jennie