What Do You Mean You've Been Here Before? (Home Staging in Houston, TX)

What Do You Mean You’ve Been Here Before? (Home Staging in Houston, TX)

Last week I took time out to repeat my ASP training. ASP stands for Accredited Staging Professional and it is the designation one receives after completing the course offered by StagedHomes.com.

For the first two days, the class is a fun mix of experienced and novice Agents and Stagers so we learn not only from the course and the instructor, but each other. The third day is specifically for Stagers and is extremely in depth. There were three of us repeating the course last week.

An Agent sitting next to me asked why my name tent was green while the others were yellow. I explained that I had been in the class before and had been given a different colored tent as a cue to the instructor. The Agent gave me a quizzical look and asked, “What do you mean you’ve been here before? Why would you take this class twice?”

Although the course is only three days long, StagedHomes.com manages to pack a lot of information into those three days. Since the last time I took the class, I’ve matured as a Stager and see the staging world with new eyes. I wanted to take the class again from this perspective since the first time I took it I was quite overwhelmed with all the new information. By taking the class again I had the opportunity to learn things I may have missed or forgotten since the last time.

The class also provides an excellent opportunity for networking. According to Diane Darling, CEO of Effective Networking, Inc., "The real definition of networking is building relationships before you need them." Having other ASPs as a resource has been invaluable. Their knowledge is eclipsed only by their generosity. I’ve done work for ASP Realtors and with ASP Stagers that was beneficial to all involved, but especially our clients.

When all is said and done, the class will make me a better Stager. I not only learn staging techniques and communications skills, I also get a refresher on the ethical standards that set ASPs apart. Like I said before, it is a lot of information. I may just have to take the class again.

If you’d like to see rooms transformed by an Accredited Staging Professional, visit my gallery. If you would like to know how an Accredited Staging Professional can assist you with selling your house or if you are interested in earning the ASP designation, I would love to hear from you.

• Kathy Strader, ASP
• www.MemorialStagedHomes.com
• Kathy@MemorialStagedHomes.com
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