Don't sacrifice your client when it's time to promote your home staging services

Debra,

I am in complete agreement on this one. I think my role is to make the home as appealing as possible to the maximum number of buyers and not to let anyone know that I am doing it, since that might in some cases, mean a shift in attitude on the buyers part.

I know there will be differences of opinions on this one and as Mark Twain would say, "That's what makes horse races." But, at least for myself, I am more comfortable not advertising to potential buyers.

Debra,

I couldn't agree more! If I do my best for the agents and homeowners I work for, I won't have to worry about anyone seeing a sign with my company information on it to gain new business. I like to be the "silent partner" in this deal.

This is a really good post Debra as so many questions are put forward about the issue of promotion of our respective businesses and what we can do to engage people when they are viewing our handywork.

Well in the instance of seeing a beautifully prepared home for sale, the last thing we want to do is cloud the inspection or the sale ofor the home landscape by having our cards or fliers (or worse still, lawn sign) crowding an impeccable home.

As stagers, we are the artist that never really gets recognised by the public for the work we complete. Our satisfaction comes from a happy home owner who sells their property quicker and for a better price. This (other than our payment of course) is our true reward from the job, and hopefully the word of mouth that goes with it. That is promotion that will beat a lawn sign each and every single time.

We simply endeavour to contribute to the success of others which is a pretty selfless act these days and one we can be proud of.

Adam

http://www.shiftbydesign.com.au/

Exactly, once the work is done you go back through your leads and review the seeds you have been sowing in order to gain more new work. Word of mouth will follow you from completion of jobs and this is where your best advertising comes from, no better form of testimonial.

Debra, I agree.  I never advertise in occupied homes, it absolutely takes away from the appeal of the house and I believe it can make buyers put their guard up knowing that the house has been proffesionally prepared.

I gotta admit I am pretty much with you on this one.

I tihink our WORK should tell our story to those that NEED to know. WHICH is not the buyer.

Me

I agree as well.  The only exception I can think of is if you are sponsoring a broker's open house for a home you just staged, by all means...have those biz cards ready to hand out as you work the room!  What an opportunity to illustrate what staging is!

Susan

It is interesting reading the different responses to this post, particularly Nora and Susan's post which is the only one that has a differing opinion (which is good in my books as it promotes debate and makes people think about certain issues more and then explore opportunity).

That being said, in my market it would be likened to corporate suicide to brand any work we do on behalf of our clients. While I certainly take advantage of my work and publicise it in my online portfolio, I still am a firm believer in being subtle and letting to work...well...do it's work.

Branding our work is fraught with danger. From a buyer opinion it can make them question why the property has been staged, what are we trying to cover up? As an example, if you were looking at buying a well presented second hand car and the exterior looked nice and shiny, so you take up a position in the drivers seat only to notice a decal on the dashboard saying "Bodywork and spraypaint by Ralph's Repairs" or "Rust removed by Reginald's" would you still be interested in the car? I think not.

I think we have a responsibility (and most certainly a right) to ensure our work is recognised, but as Craig mentioned earlier, that responsibility and right must be directed at the right audience.

C'mon, This day and age who doesnt know when a home is staged? Well I guess they know the ones that are staged properly.. So why hide the fact?

The last vacancy stage I did, I asked the Realtor about advertising the home as "staged" he looked at me funny, chuckled and said, "every Realtor knows when a home is staged. "

So with permission,  I put up the kitchen sign, and business cards, and pooof, all my cards were gone 4 days later.

After the home sold, I was introduced to the new buyer, by the seller, when I went to pick up my inventory. He shook my hand, and told me what a wonderful job I had done, and he will be recommending me to his friends who are selling.

I am now recieving calls from Realtors I havent targeted. (2 new ones today) Because they saw my work first hand, and were pleased.

I am not going to hide the fact that THIS is MY WORK. (unless I am asked not to) I dont want to be known as "Oh some stager did this"

Heather

This brings up an interesting point. I currently have magnets on my car to advertise my business. Actually, last week a realtor stopped me in a grocery store parking lot to ask for my card an chat for a moment. Do you recommend also taking these off when I meet clients for consultations and actual staging days?

I thought perhaps it might be nice, like when the phone company arrives, their van is clearly marked.

I usually don't put signs in or out of the house that is staged but...

I have signs on my van that describe my services so the noisy neighbor knows I was there anyway.

In one case, the realtor was selling her own house and said I was more than welcome to put signage inside the home. It was a small discreet sign in the kitchen with a cute bowl of business cards - 20+ cards where gone in a week.

My feeling is usually "no" to signage but there are exceptions. There are cases where is is acceptable.

Nope, I'm with Debra.  It is not good when folks put out their postcards at open houses either.  A few business cards at the Brokers' Open, but nothing anywhere near the public.

I am often asked to be as discreet as possible when staging high-end homes.  It's true these are often owner-occupied. In fact, sometimes, when I first go in to do the Grid I'm told to park 1/2 a block away!! 

I can see the arguement in not putting out your marketing materials and in someways I think its taboo to tell buyers this home was staged, but, with staging on the rise more and more buyers are expecting homes to be staged.

 I have a rider sign that I offer to my clients if they would like to put out on their for sale sign. The rider sign simply says this home was staged and the website where they can preview it at. I think it's an extra piece of marketing that the homeowners and REA can use to drive more traffic into the house.  When people are driving by and see the sign they can preview it on their own time.