You know the old adage nothing in life is free, well, it's usually true. About the only thing I can think of that is free are "Smiles". The same goes for the "Free Consultation." Many home stagers may offer this in their advertisement. What does it mean? Why would I pay someone to come to my house and give me a consultation when I can get one for free? I would ask the same question. What does a "Free Consultation" consist of? Usually a stager will come to your house, look around, maybe even take some pictures, talk to you about their services etc. They aren't there to give you home staging advise, tips, or recommendations. They are there to give you an "Estimate" of what staging will cost, a "Proposal" and that's it. It's not the same thing as a paid consultation.
If you go to an attorney for a "Free Consultation", does he give you advice on how to solve your problem. No way, he gives you what his pricing will be to help solve your problem.
A real home staging consultation will take about 2 hours, the entire property will be assessed, recommendations, tips, ideas, and probably more than you want to know about your home will be discussed, and then you will receive an estimate or proposal on what a stagers services and costs will be.
"Free Consultation" = "Free Estimate of Services-Not Recommendations"
"Paid Consultation" = "Show Ready Home" = "SOLD!"
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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to provide solutions to getting your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!
Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation. Please visit our website for more information. We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area League City Home Staging.
Areas Served: Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood. And all areas down to Galveston Island.
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© Redesign Etc.,Inc. 2006-2013. All Rights Reserved.
Redesign Etc. of Houston is a Full-Service real estate staging company. We stage vacant, occupied, builders specs, condos, townhomes, vacation rentals and commercial property. We offer furniture & accessory rentals at competitive rates. Insured & Incorporated with the State of TX.
Owner, Cindy Bryant has earned the RESA-PROTM designation, holding professional home stagers to the highest industry standards, ethics, integrity and proficiency in staging techniques while protecting Homeowners and Real Estate Agents.
Please visit our portfolio of before and afters and website for more information. Check out our profile page too! Check out our sister sites for the Houston Bay Area League City Home Staging and Galveston Home Staging. Please contact Cindy Bryant for more information or call 281-748-2170.
Areas Served: Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood. And all areas down to Galveston Island.
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2 Comments on A "Free" Home Staging Consultation...It's Not What You Think
Cindy - you are so right! When I do a verbal consult - 2 hours is the absolute minimum amount of time to get through a home and tell them what needs to be done. 4 hours is the absolute minimum for a written. And this is paid time.
I think "free consult" is misleading to the general public. I don't offer a "free" consult - I call it an estimate - this is what I do when I'm proposing a project management job - one that encompasses bringing in and managing the contractors (painters, plumbers, etc.) and then staging. This is where I let them know how much it will cost to get the project done. There is no such thing as a "free" consult - it's an estimate and by calling it a consult - this is not the truth - a consult is where you actually provide a client with information and the "free" one is not it. And someone who asks for a free consult is looking just for that - something for free. It's tough, once you are there, to not speak out when you see things that need to be done. But I've been doing this long enough that I will not go out and do this for free - my time is valuable and what I know is valuable. Howver, once I am hired - my agents and clients know that I go above and beyond to get the job done - and that's what can make the difference.
The only time I do "free" is when I do a charitable donation such as an auction, or when I'm volunteering my time at a school or non-profit. This is well worth it, if only for the personal satisfaction - but also knowing that these groups cannot afford to have someone come in and do what I do but really need the services or the contribution.
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