I get many calls & emails from people who are thinking about becoming a Stager or have just completed a course. They want information or for me to hire them.
It takes me back 6 years to when I finished my course with Staged Homes and became an Accredited Staging Professional. I was just like these people, full of enthusiasm and struggling to establish myself in the industry. At that time Staging was not that common in my area.
I didn't really have any idea of how hard it was to get started or how long it would take to get my business off the ground.
I'm not writing this to discourage anyone, but rather to make you aware. Building your business doesn't happen over night. It takes time and effort.
You try to get known by :
- making presentations at Realty offices
- creating a web site
- creating a blog as I have here on Active Rain
- sending out e-mails
- sending out a news letter
- doing cold calls
- introducing yourself at open houses
- dropping off literature at Realty offices if they allow it
- getting a booth at Realty shows
- putting out fliers in neighborhoods
- advertising in Real Estate papers and magazines
Some of these efforts will reward you with a new client. Some will do nothing for you. Once you get those first few clients, word of mouth starts kicking in. I have found that is the best way to get known. Those recommendations are so important.
The key thing to remember is that along the way there will be a lot of rejection. You will go out and knock yourself out doing a presentation or manning your booth at a show and get very little back. You may feel you have really connected with a Realtor at an open house and never hear from them.
Don't be discouraged by the rejections. Keep at it. What you may see as a rejection may pay off down the road. That agent that didn't call may pass your card onto another agent who comes to them for a name. You never know when your efforts are going to pay off.
Establishing a Staging business takes time and money. I usually say 'don't quit your day job' because you probably won't be able to support yourself at first. The great thing about Staging is you can do it evenings and weekends at first. You can take vacation days off from your 'day job' to make presentations at Realty offices.
Once you get established, you will have a very rewarding job that you love to go to every day.
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