This is a word of caution for those individuals who are interested in becoming a Home Stager. This is from the perspective of a Seasoned and Professional Home Stager (me) and that of someone who "thought it would be fun".
As many have posted here on AR about the numerous phone calls from "interested individuals" about the Home Staging Industry - I received one such call and it happen to be of good timing. Thankfully, our business has been booming and needed to hire on additional help. Although I had already offered the job to another person who HAD experience in Staging, this Individual came to us with a back ground in Interior Design and a very upbeat attitude.
I CLEARLY stated what the job would entail and how much it would involve. However she seemed unstoppable in her quest and so I embraced hat enthusiasm and put her to work. So I hired 2 people, instead of just one. Keeping that in mind - the following was all done with the HELP of another person who HAD experience in Staging other than myself. In her first week she:
•· Filed office paperwork
•· She then helped meet with an interior design client, listened to their needs, tried to facilitate a plan and color scheme, only to find that it was taking hours for her to find that "just right" piece for the small space...
•· She was asked to call Realtors who had recently visited our Staged homes which were now in escrow as well as call some other local Realtor Offices to offer our services and provide an office luncheon or breakfast (she was NOT comfortable with this)
•· She was asked to follow up with current clients, insurance agents, vendors, etc to "make sure everything was OK and if there was anything we could do for them" (again, not comfortable with this)
•· She came along to a meeting at a very high-end local hotel to discuss an upcoming fund-raiser which we would be involved in.
•· Helped clean out the warehouse and inventory what was there (Cleaning means moving, packing, organizing, sweeping, cleaning, etc)
•· When she saw the warehouse, her first response was, "You call this empty?!" To her is was full, to the trained eye - it was desolate.
•· Sought out to find bedding, a desk, floral and greenery, artwork, etc for inventory
•· Tagged along while meeting a Staging client at not 1, but 2 homes, took notes, pictures, measurements, etc
•· She helped PACK the moving truck the night before a Staging installation
•· Helped UN-Pack the morning of the installation at the house into the landing spot (long driveway)
•· Helped MOVE furniture around into new areas of the home, up and down stairs, etc
•· Helped make beds, steam the linens, hang artwork, place plants, etc
•· At the end of the day, her comment was "This is like moving a house, TWICE, this is NOT what I thought it would be"
•· I was quick to point out that once the house sells, we get to do it all over again: she looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Needless to say, she lasted all of about 3 weeks. Her reason frankly was "It was not what I thought it would be."
Home Staging is NOT glamorous, is not lights and cameras following you around. It is HARD WORK, long hours, tons of marketing, and sometimes back breaking labor. It can be hot, dusty and sweaty some days; cold, wet and muddy on others. It is being able to navigate Home Owners, Sellers, and Realtors, friends, families and sometimes competition. It is being a MOVER and a "shaker". It is not "easy money".
Before considering starting your own Home Staging business, I would HIGHLY suggest speaking with at least 3 Seasoned and FULL TIME Home Stagers who have been in the business for a couple of years (not months) and do NOT be fooled by the statistics of your training program and how much money you can make with little to no inventory.
If you are interested in discussing the Home Staging industry in Southern California, you're welcome to contact me any time. www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com
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