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Stage Trade Service Program

By Deborah Chene

Home Stager with Staging Impressions

November 11, 2007 11:18 PM

The goal of Home Staging is to create the "WOW!" factor in homes that are for sale. Having a wider variety of furnishings and accessories at a lower cost spreads the benefits of home staging to a wider audience and increases the speed of general consumer acceptance. I have been staging homes for more than three years and have seen a growing interest in Home Staging, but customers' concerns over the cost of renting furniture and accessories has not diminished. Sellers also look to Home Stagers to help them downsize and reduce their furniture and accessories and look to Home Stagers for help.

Staging Impressions' Home Stage Trade Service Program is designed to reduce home stagers' start-up costs and provide expanded, more affordable rental options to the consumer and allow them to offer items for sale. The Stage Trade Service Program focuses on renting accessories to home stagers, providing a clearing house for accessories to be shared among professional stagers, and consolidating buying power for wholesale and bulk discount opportunities. The Stage Trade Service Program is offered to most licensed Home Stagers in Michigan. The program is not available to the general public.

Make it a wonderful day.

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Christina Williams. REALTOR® TN property search & local insights

First Realty Company - Crossville, TN

Home staging is becoming very popular! Keep up the good work. Happy Veterans Day.

Nov 11, 2007 11:39 PM

Kate Hart

Hart & Associates Staging and Design - Radnor, PA

What a wonderful idea. Please let me know this works out for you- I have tons of inventory that I would like to rent to stagers. KH

Nov 11, 2007 11:41 PM

Al Maxwell

Keller Williams - Marietta, GA

Real Estate Agent

Good suggestion. Thanks for passing this along. And also Happy veteran's day.

Nov 11, 2007 11:47 PM

Cari Pilon

RE:STYLE Home Staging - Brighton, MI

RE:STYLE Home Staging

Hi Deborah,

I got your email and will look at it today. Thanks!

Juan Valdez

Priority Bail - Perth Amboy, NJ

Good Stuff! would you like the oppurtunity to swap links?

if so email me at info@yourfamilyhomeloans.com tell me a little about your website and I will give you more Info about my offerings... Thanks!

Nov 11, 2007 11:59 PM

Karen Reynolds

Champagne Staging, LLC - Wake Forest, NC

Home Stagers are licensed in Michigan? Is that a new thing? I personally have resisted renting my inventory to other Stagers who ask because what happens if I need a specific piece that I rented out? Then I have to go re-buy it and thus, kinda defeats the purpose, at least for me :(

I have reduced my rental ratesd for the winter to keep items circulating and so far so good (eek, knock on wood!). Just out of curiosity tho -- if Stagers rent from a clearinghouse, how does that save their clients money? Because they have to pay the clearinghouse the rental fees, and then they not only pass those fees to their clients, but their additional time as well to make all the arrangements?

Sounds like a good idea tho if there are not furniture rental companies available, or if some of the fees from said rental companies are waived :) Good luck! Keep us posted how its going.

Nov 12, 2007 12:12 AM

Jackie Peraza

Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA

Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Deborah - this sounds quite interesting and I'd be interested in additional information.

Jackie

Nov 12, 2007 01:18 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Deborah ~ This could be a useful concept, but I'm not quite sure how it works -- could you expand on the particulars please? Thanks! (In my area, some of us already rent a few limited pieces to other stagers when needed and find it quite helpful. We do a simple lease agreement month-to-month and charge about 10-15% of what we paid for it. Is this similar to your program?)

Nov 12, 2007 01:31 AM

Anonymous

Deborah Chene

Hello,

I'm happy to have this generate so much interest and discussion. Let me address a few comments. When I said license. I meant a Michigan Business license not a licensed stager. I will look at future wording on this subject.

In our area and through our associations we also do rent to other stagers but it is not formalized and right now it does not have as wide a reach as it could have. The Stage Trade Service program makes it simple to upload information so that other stagers know what is available without calling or e-mailing around or relying on word of mouth. You can also post items for sale if you want to liquidate some or a portion of your inventory. It is designed so each business can determine their rental time period and rates and are responsible for their negotiations and contracts. They can also specify if items are available for vacant or occupied houses.

I know many stagers are reluctant to share inventory so they can join the program and take advantage of a larger rental pool; the monthly Webinars that will be dedicated to merchandising and inventory issues; and posting items for sale for sellers. In the future we can aggregate buying power and take advantage of volume discounts or trade program discounts. This can help with art, greenery and prop purchases. Since our rental furniture company rates went up, we might want to rent more small tables and chairs to each other.

It saves money because you might need to augment your inventory for one or two houses without the need to add to credit card charges, or you might need a one time specialty item, or by renting through stagers you reduce your storage costs and shopping time. On the other side of the coin you might have had a boom cycle but a portion of your inventory is not working for you. It might work for another stager. I would not recommend posting all inventory so you have enough available for your business and I would not post items that are your favorites or your signature. I do think this broadens and expands your inventory offerings.

Thanks again,

Nov 12, 2007 02:52 AM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Sounds very interesting and I would like to see how this progresses for you. When "I" am in the position of needing items... I have 2 other Stagers that have warehouses that I can rent from and visa versa. Right now I let my team mates rent from my own inventory. I would rather have them get a job and feel that they can use my things than turn the job down. It is more of a "sharing" concept. It sounds similar to yours. Make sure you have all the appropriate paperwork for these transactions.

Nov 12, 2007 03:22 AM

Stage Trade Service Program

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Deborah Chene

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