As with many new stagers I do have portfolio photos but they are from my own home. I met a realtor last week at a property tour, sent her some info and now she wants MLS #'s of homes I've staged. What should I do? How do I respond?
The only home I staged that was actually for sale was mine back in Alabama. It did get a full price offer only hours after going on the market but she can't see MLS from another state can she? Not that I know the MLS number anyway.
hmm, good question...I would just tell her you don't keep track of the MLS #'s, you could also tell her your new in the area and haven't done much work in the area yet?? good luck.
I think that honesty is the best policy in a case like this. Just let this particular agent know that the photos you emailed are actual staging projects that you did for friends or neighbors, and their homes aren't yet on the market. You don't have to say they're of your own home, but don't try to fool anyone into thinking they were actual MLS properties -- it's too easy to find out that's not the case, and then you'd have lost all credibility -- far too big a risk to take.
We all had to start from scratch, and we built our portfolios one by one. There's nothing wrong with having photos of "unpaid" projects, or homes that weren't yet on the market. Good luck!
I agree. Just be honest. What you might want to do is call all your friends and ask if you can stage 1 or 2 rooms in their homes so that you can build your portfolio. Bottom line is... is your credibility based upon the few pics on your site? Get some more. ;)) Hope this helps.
I did as everyone here suggested. I told her I was fairly new and didn't have any MLS numbers I could give her. I also reminded her of my low prices and told her I'd have more photos coming next week.
Thanks again to everyone.
Good luck Chris! I agree with everyone about being honest. I think showing her before and after photos of your work is what's important! The MLS numbers will come.... the results are in the photos!
Let us know how it goes.
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