Your Home Staging Business- You've got questions, I've got answers!
? ? ?
After the recent round of RESA/Stage It Forward Round Tables, it became clear that many professional home stagers, newbies and veterans alike, had a lot of questions about the business of home staging. I'm a big believer in the saying "A rising tide raises all boats", meaning the more successful one professional stager is, the more successful we all have a chance of being. As a successful veteran home staging business owner, I am opening up the floor to questions about the business of home staging. This will be a series of posts in which I will answer your questions, to the best of my ability, about how to run a successful home staging business.
Here's the rules: I will answer questions you have about starting, running or sustaining a home staging business. I will answer from my experience, but I will not answer any questions about my home staging business specifically, such as how much money I made last year (enough to support myself, my business, and put some in savings) or what, exactly, my marketing materials look like. If I think someone else can answer the question better, or someone wants to volunteer, I will invite them to write a guest post.
So, if you've got questions, I've got answers.
Feel free to post your questions here, or email me privately at Michelle@MovingMountainsDesign.com. If I think your question and my answer should be a members only post, that is how it will be posted.If you want to ask a question, but don't want to be identified as the author of the question, your secret will be safe with me - I won't reveal your identity.
Let's help each other raise the tide on good home staging business practices so all our boats float higher!
Moving Mountains Design is one of the most successful home staging companies in Los Angeles, CA.
We measure our success by the speed in which our staged homes sell, often with multiple offers above listing price.We work with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale.
Some of our services include vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties.
For more information about our home staging services, contact Los Angeles home stager, Michelle Minch (626)441-8975 or by email.
Michelle ~ this is a great offer of help especially to novice stagers (or even experienced ones who are facing a particular challenge). I'm looking forward to seeing some of the Q and A right here on A/R, as it will be helpful info to all.
Post is featured in the Group Real World Home Staging for Newbies.
Hi Michelle. I am moving to Idaho and am spoiled rotten here in the Bay Area with furniture rental places. In Idaho, there just aren't any. Do you have any suggestions for aquiring affordable furniture and then about trading it out because you can't keep using the same peices.
It's really nice of you to share your expertise as well. BTW, I will be the Idaho State RESA President. One of the things I love about RESA is it's members attitudes to share, just like yourself.
Very nice Michelle. Linda and I believe in a couple of things you have touched on. First we believe in the rising boat theory. This industry will rise or sink based on the reputation of the entire industry. Second we believe that one of the biggest stumbling blocks for new and old stagers alike is running the business. Just yell if we can help you, help others....
LOL, I just got an email this morning from someone interested in getting into the business on the Ventura County side with LOTS of questions. Maybe I'll throw a few of her questions at you so she can get a few different oppinions. (although great minds DO think alike ;-)
Such a great idea to do this! You are very generous to offer your substantial knowledge and expertise to those new to this biz. I believe in karma and I think you must have a lot coming your way! :)
Marlene: Thanks for your questions. You can read my response here.
Tanya: I am trying to make the world of home staging a better place for all of us. Thanks!
Maureen: Thank you for the feature. We all run up against a brick wall now and again. Newer stagers maybe more often than veterans. If I can help, I will
Shana: I will respond to your questions in my next blog in this series.
Kathy N: I may be tapping you as a guest responder. Thank you.
Gary: Thank you for your kind offer to help. I will definitely take you up on that.
Connie: Send her to this blog. I'll be happy to help.
Annie: Thank you. I need all the good Karma I can get.
Michelle, I am not a realtor but I do have my home on the market. I have been thinking about having it staged. I am in a few networking groups and each one has someone that does staging. How do I know what to look for when hiring someone?
Michelle, I have just taken the Stage class and excited about it and that it will help me in my business in getting the the house ready to sell. I enjoyed reading your post.
Marie Goodwin Coldwell Banker Stuart and Watts Real Estate
Karen: I had no idea this was featured. I was wondering where the REAs were coming from since I had only posted it in staging groups. Well, there you go. I'm happy to be of service, but come on people, only 3 questions? Thank you Karen.
Ok...more questions: Without being specific, how did you promote your business to get the jobs that you get? I've tried home shows (and that was a waste of money)...newspaper press releases, networking with groups like WCR. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I want to be as helpful to people that have no money for staging. What are the things that I can tell them to get the most bang for their buck and yet be able to still make myself a living?
Michelle, I have sooooo many questions! Here in little Huntsville Tx there is no such thing as a stager. Where do I start? I'm looking for answers from A~Z...
Shana: I will answer all your questions in my next post.
Deb: There are a few wonderful stagers in the Houston area. I know you are about 60 miles North, but I will put out an inquiry to see if anyone works in your area.
Michelle, You are an extremely generous spirit with one terrific attitude. This is a wonderful idea and will help many others....I already know I can call on you if needed :)
My husband is in the military, and we move to a different state every couple of years, and I have to re-start re-jump my marketing every couple of years. I've decided to do consultations only, and I've reduced my price. Is there anything else I can do?
Maybe after we move home, I can be full-service (home is S.F. Bay Area).
Teri: You are already a member of Active Rain, which is a great start. Start blogging about home staging. Find your own original voice, as opposed to repeating what you were taught or you hear others saying all the time. Write about home staging, and make frequent references to the town/city where your business is located. Blogging is one of the most effective ways of marketing your services and the best part is, it's free! Try to blog about home staging, or home staging consultations at least once per week. If you don't already understand search enging optimization and how it applies to blogging, there are many wonderful and educational posts on Active Rain. Just click on Search and type in SEO. Try and network with other professional stagers in your area. I have gotten many jobs referred to me by other stagers because I reached out to them. Beware of lowering your price too much. Your time and knowledge are valuable. Yes, we have to take the current state of the economy into account, but that doesn't mean you should devalue your services. Don't emphasize how cheap you are, emphasize what a great value you are. If there is a relocation assistance office on base, see if you can talk to the people who work there about your services. They might be a very good source of referrals. I wish you the best of luck and am grateful for your husband's service to our country.
Michelle - What a great idea! And a great way to start the new year.
I'd love to get your thoughts on staging with your own furniture vs renting. I have no desire to become a furniture mover or rent a storage space. I love the ease and flexibility of being able to pick and choose from a range of furniture and then have it delivered and picked up professinally.
However I am starting to wonder if stagers who do own their own furniture are able to under-price those of us who need to quote a minimum 2-3 month rental through our rental partners. I'm still getting 90% of my calls for vacant staging and price is really an issue even with high end homes!
What a generous use of your time Michelle, this is the most amazing group of women( and guys too :0 ). To see everyone working more towards a common goal for all than just being out for themselves
As always Thank you Michelle for sharing your wisdom with all of us. I know that I got a lot out of that 2nd annual meeting and was wanting more and thanks to you there is.
Best wishes to you and your company this year and thank you again for helping to continue to grow and educate our community.
Hi Michelle- Good luck with RESA Stager of the Year! (Sometimes those entries are very time consuming aren't they?)
It is wonderful that you opened this idea up for the many newer stagers. I am always learning things for my business and you are a fantastic 'Fount of Knowledge'. KUDOS!! Regards-Kathleen G
Kathleen: Thank you for your good luck wishes. I have fallen behind answering some of these questions. I have been very busy. This January is much busier for us than last January. Knock on wood!
Michelle: Last summer I contacted you because I was considering starting my own staging business in Utah and you invited me to join AR, which I did, but only recently completed my profile. Once again, you are showing great compassion and consideration by helping out at this stage of my business - thank you so much!
Meanwhile, I've been working on a number of things to get business: My website has is recently up and running; I have a huge list of Realtors who I've cold-called, introducing myself and sending them information about Designing Details; I've asked to attend sales meetings to no avail: put up posters in some local businesses among other things.
My problem is two-fold. Early on, I received some positive response for proposals, but did not end up getting the jobs. In the last few months, there has been no interest even in proposals. The only "jobs" I've done are those that have been personally referred to me by friends.
How do I get people to be interested in Staging, better sell my Company and the positive impact Staging with Designing Details ~ Home Staging & Design, will have on properties being marketed?
There is not a great way to ensure my prices are competitive for the state of Utah, but from what I do know, I have been pretty competitive.
I really do LOVE staging and want to do what it takes to make my business a success! Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.
First of all, I think your willingness to share your expertise and to help others in the industry is absolutely wonderful and commendable!
I was pondering an email I received yesterday from a developer wanting a proposal for staging services for their buyers. I haven't been successful in marketing to builders and/or developers, and frankly, the fact that there is new construction in my area is surprising so I don't want to waste an opportunity. I'm wondering how you handle these clients. Specifically, do you submit the same type of proposal as you would for a homeowner? (i.e. consultation, written report, etc.) Do you include "perks" that wouldn't normally be offered? What about the contractual elements? Do you have a separate service agreement?
I would love to hear your thoughts, Michelle. Thank you so much!
Teresa: I'm not sure what you mean by "staging service for buyers". I assume that means that if someone buys one of his/her homes, he/she will pay for you to do a consultation to help sell the buyer's current home. Some builders use that as an incentive for buyers to buy their property.
I would talk to the builder and ask them what they had in mind. Are they planning to pay you for the consultation or are they just allowing you to market your services to their buyers? One strategy would be to tell the builder the price for a consultation, and tell them that after you have done 3 (pick a number that fits for you) consultations for his clients, that the price will drop (-$100?. -$50...again pick a number that fits for you). This is his/her incentive to keep using you.
What usually happens in this scenario, the builder pays for the consultation and you are free to upsell your staging services, which the buyer pays for. Some stagers will credit back the builder the cost of the consultation if the upsold staging is a great enough number. Again, it has to work for you and for your market.
I hope this answers your question, Teresa. If I didn't understand what the builder was asking, let me know and I will take another crack at it.
Michelle, Thank you so much for your great advice...it really helps! Yes, the developer wants to offer their buyers staging services to help sell their existing home. I am submitting the proposal tomorrow, and your input is very helpful. :-)
Thanks so much for the offer! I love this site and the people who contribute! I have done 3 vacants so far and they have all been newly remodeled so they were very simple to fully stage. I use my own furnishings and charge $1 per square foot for vacant staging. Just wanted your thoughts on doing it that way.
So my next question is about occupied homes (which I have never done). I plan to charge $100 for 1 1/2 hour consultation or possibly $.10 per sf but I'm not really sure how to charge if it goes to an actual staging. Do I need to guesstimate the number of hours it will take me? What about accessories? I don't like the idea of mixing my stuff with theirs. I'm sure if they needed new bedding or towels I would purchase them (asking their color preference) and have them pay for that since they would get used. There are so many variables with an occupied home that it intimidates me!
Los Angeles home stager info about home staging in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Michelle Minch has been featured in the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section. cost effective Los Angeles home staging tips and interior design in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, La Canada, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hollywood, Studio City. Pasadena home staging and Pasadena home stager information.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Posted by 
;)
;)
Hi Michelle,
What certification did you get to become a home stager?? Would it be beneficial to me to get this? :o)