What do you do when a client breaks a Prop

Sandra-good question. We have not run into this situation so far so the other answers will be a lesson for me too! My first instinct would be that they would be charged retail for the items (new), especially if I had used the item before. Good question....

Sandra,  Do you think the spot might come out?  It might be worth it to consult a professional carpet cleaner and see what they have to say.  Maybe they can get the stain out of your favorite rug and then you can bill the client for the cleaning bill instead of the entire cost of the rug.  Does your contract cover loss or damage to your property?  Or do you have insurance that will cover it?  I know that a lot of stagers here on AR use an insurance agent named Vitus Vitallia (sp?) and you can look him up under the search feature.  If you don't have insurance for liability as well as loss you should look into it right away.

Hi Sandra - my first question would be - what does your contract say?  Does it include a clause about breakage or damages? What about your insurance?  Another option, look into the price of having it professionally cleaned.  If it exceeds the cost of the rug, then simply replace it.  (Still have the receipt?) 

To help you figure out the replacement cost - you can either go to your local store and price a replacement (which is your best bet) or simply charge the client 50% of the original purchase price of the damaged one.  I say 50% because you mentioned it was used often.

Please let us know what you decide.  I'm sure many a stager wonders about this same thing :)

I don't usually put pricier items in an occupied home for that same reason. Most of the items that are pricey go into my vacant homes. When I stage an occupied home that needs props I tell the client that I will shop for them for a budget of $300.00 or so and they could then keep the items for their new home.

I definitely always make an occupied owner pay for the new show towels, shower curtains and bedding. I won't reuse them. Consider this, it has worked out great 

Phyllis Pafumi

Thanks for the really helpful information! I just went to check on an occupied home that I staged last week and the lampshades were already bent up and the artwork was falling off the walls! Fortunately, I intentionally put low cost items in this home since I knew they had young children. I really like the idea of an "accessory" fee for occupieds and they keep everything that I purchase. I never thought of breaking it out as a separate fee.

I do not put my inventory in occupied homes. I will shop for them, whatever, but too many problems have brought us to this point.

 

The wear and tear alone will put your items into a very pricey range for rental, if you are in this to make money. 

Hi Sandra -

I have a clause in my contract that states that anything that is damaged or stolen while in the homeowner's possession will be payed for by the homeowner. I've only had one client ever question it and luckily never had anything broken. I do carry liability insurance but would never claim something so small. I too am careful about what goes into an occupied, especially when there are young children in the house.

 

Great topic!

Kelly:  I will be adding that one to my agreement!  By the time I get done with all my revisions, my 4 page agreement will be a novel! 

I am in agreement with most of the other comments - I rarely place inventory in occupied homes.  I am especially weary of homes where the owners have not taken good care of their own items, have more than one child (small children aren't the only potential hazard; teenage boys are notorious for tossing a ball around in the house), or some people of some ethnic backgrouds whose cooking leaves a lot of grease on things or strong odors.

Your inventory is too much of an investment to risk having it damaged in those situations and many people will not repay you for damages even if there is a clause in the contract.