Stagers Everywhere...It does not have to be YOUR slow time

By Kym Hough

Home Stager with www.Staged-to-Sell

November 11, 2008 03:02 AM

There are 12 months in a year. I find as I travel around the country at our StagersLIST.com Expos that the more I talk to the individual stagers the more I am amazed how our industry seems to accept the fact that business is only busy 5 - 7 months a year. That it is an acceptable fact and that its OK for that to be the case.

I have to ask - do the bills stop cominig the remaining months of the year? Does you overhead go away and the light bill not need to get paid?

If the answer is no, then keep marketing, keep working, diversify those income streams and work all year long.

Don't accept the fact the your core business slows down this time a year, make plans all year long and start marketing in July about your November, December, January and February services. So when those months come along your phone continues to ring and your business continues to thrive.

Sure its nice when our lives are not jam packed every minute of every day and our weekends fill up with work. This time a year might be just the right time to take a breath, but don't forget to keep breathing new life into your business.

Tweak your business model. The time is now to develop your marketing plans for the new year while keeping the phone ringing because of your marketing plans that you implemented from this past summer.

We have spoken to over 500 stagers around the country, in person, face to face, listening to their needs and local issues. The number one thing that comes up time and time again is marketing. I don't know how to keep the phone ringing, I don't know how to get new business, I don't know how to get a Realtor to refer me for every house.

Market, Market, Market. All year long and your phone will keep ringing!

Kym Hough, www.StagersLISTExpo.com, www.Staged-to-Sell.com, www.GreenTrainingCSP.com, www.StagersLIST.com

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Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Kym ~ Great reminders for all of us that staging is a full-time, year round business and marketing is what drives it!

Featured in the group:

http://activerain.com/groups/RealWorldHomeStaging

Nov 11, 2008 03:48 AM

Michele Hess

Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL

Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Great advice Kym. Important to stay focused. That is when we have more time to devote to marketing which will in turn minimize our slower times. You offer proof that it is time well spent.

Nov 11, 2008 04:35 AM

Suzanne Metz

Design to Appeal (Homestaging and Interior Redesign) - Medicine Hat, AB

Very good article Kym. That's exactly what makes a good business! Market, market, market all year long!

Nov 11, 2008 06:34 AM

Abby Roselli

ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY

Staten Island Home Stager

Excellent points, Kym. You have to market when it's slow AND when it's busy...it's just something you have to continue to do no matter what. Consistent marketing will drive more consistency to the business, in the long run.

Nov 11, 2008 06:57 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

So true Kym -- and thanks for sharing the encouragement! In a down market, staging is a desperately needed service and we all are getting lots of free advertising as it seems there is so much in the news about staging recently!

Nov 12, 2008 01:50 PM

Sheri Walker

Joy Daniels Real Estate Group - Mechanicsburg, PA

Kym - I'm totally with you. There is no whining or complaining with me. My thoughts go to "ok, if there's less business to go around, then I will just have to get a larger portion of it". I think in slow times the "masters" shine through. My desire has always been to find the "masters" of their trade. I told my round table yesterday that I started out my business with a database of 300 realtors and 6 months in started to "weed" out. Believe it or not by the end of year 1 (I'm only in my 2nd year), I only had 50 on my list. I know that sounds crazy and I'm not telling people to whittle down their database (Yikes) but for me as I was getting busier, I discovered the only realtors I was really comfortable working with were the top 5%. They were the masters and they are good to work with. Now into year 2 my number one "master" asked me to work exclusively with her for more money. So, now I have a whoppin' 1 realtor partner and have a higher projected income (go figure). I recently proposed to my partner that we propose to our sellers a 7% commission on all listings and do an automatic staging. I wrote up the presentation page for her as we present it right up front to our sellers. We've done it a few times so far and no one has blinked!!! I also run home improvements through my company (I subcontract and manage all the work). We are also starting to host seller open houses at model homes and rental and other furniture stores. I just finished a new powerpoint presentation that I'm really excited about and we also started a new for sale by owner program that has already reaped one staging appointment and 2 good leads for the spring. I'm getting my real estate license by February (hopefully)! There is really so much business to be had...you just have to find it and initiate it. Don't wait for the phone to ring...make it ring...on someone elses end! :)

Nov 12, 2008 02:14 PM

Robyn Guinn

StageAZ - Phoenix, AZ

Home staging, Arizona

Excellent advice Kym. Keep on keeping on all year, but wait, it's hot here in July and August, ................................no down time?...............none?..............okay, fine but...but.... c'mon 120 in the shade? ;)

Nov 12, 2008 03:35 PM

Terrylynn Fisher

Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA

HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

YUP and it works much of the time. What we perceive to be true IS. Sheri, good for you!!! oh I've already told you that...you go girl.

Nov 12, 2008 04:41 PM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Steady and consistent marketing with a targeted approach is key. Know your market and who you want your clients to be and focus your efforts. I think people can get overwhelmed when they think about "marketing" from materials to purchase, presentations to give, gifts to buy, how to even get in the door etc...that they may give up before even attempting. Starting small and building as you go, see what works or sticks in YOUR market - you don't have to follow someone else's lead. But getting advice and ideas from others is such a valuable asset.

Thanks for sharing Kym! You know your market!

Nov 14, 2008 03:12 PM

Phyllis Pafumi

ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ

ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

Hey Kym I am working harder tweaking my marketing plan and getting out there doing realtor presentations and trade shows. This is NOT THE TIME to be complacent. I also take on more redesigns and color consults, as well as Holiday decorating.

Staging may slow down a bit but my mind is going at a million miles per hour...Thanks for all the great advice and I am looking forward to a busier Spring than ever

Happy Staging Phyllis Pafumi

Nov 15, 2008 07:31 AM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Kym, great post for all those out there that wonder why the phone isn't ringing. Let me share with you a paragraph that my mentor showed me 30 years ago. (Don't try to figure out how old I am, LOL!!)

nonononononono

noonononoonono

noononoononono

nonononononono

noononoononono

nonononononoyes

when you keep hearing no's, keep going until you get to the one that says yes.Then come and tell me how great it feels to hit a home run. Rember that feeling, and keep going until you get another yes. Pretty soon, you will get addicted to the high you feel when you get a yes and you will always want to hear it again.

nononononononononononononononoonononoononon

Nov 15, 2008 09:25 AM

Kym Hough

www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA

Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Thank you all for commenting. So true. You are only slow WHEN YOU WANT TO BE SLOW. Money is everywhere. Hanging heavy in the air like leaves on tree. Even now. We need to be aware and flexible. If your business is not where its suppose to be then change it! Change what you are doing. Change your business model. Change your thinking and it will happen. kym

Nov 15, 2008 09:50 AM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Great reminder Kym. Not many people out there have a business plan for their biz. Part of that plan needs to have benchmarks and goals each month. When you have a break... THAT is the time to market, to visit your REAs, pass out 100 cards. Great reminder and THIS is what keeps us in business!... I feel a blog coming on.... All the best my friend!

Nov 15, 2008 02:49 PM