Admin

STAGERS GETTING A BAD NAME, AS IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE BATTLES TO FIGHT

By
Home Stager with HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC
I was recently contacted by a local mortgage professional. He was working with two Realtors in my area and had dropped by when they were having an open house. Much to his surprise the house had been staged ??? and was to say it mildly, a disaster. The stager ( can she actually call herself that ???) had told the Realtors that they could just keep the sofa and the staging "props"). This "stager" had brought to the house a worn-out couch, a picture frame with no print in it ( hung on the wall ) and this is the deal sealer.. a small bistro set was placed in the dining room. The mortgage professional and the two Realtors were taken aback to say the least. However, they could not voice an opinon as the stager had been hired by the homeowner. When the homeowner came by after the open house, needless to say he was not happy about paying $450 for this staging and then on top of it all, he was left with the mess and having to remove everything. I guess what I am trying to say here is that, what with the all the things that we have to deal with, the oppositions to staging and homeowners and Realtors thinking that they can stage themselves, we also have stagers out there that give us a bad name...have any of you come across a similar situation ? One very good thing did come from this, I have met and will be working with two go-getter Realtors and a mortgage professional  that is an awesome networker.( That by the way found me here on AR ).
Posted by

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

        HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC   

             " design support to sell or dwell "

              MARY LOU TEAGUE

         Certified professional stager and re-designer

                      

          ASHSR East Tennessee Chapter President

                   Knoxville, Tennessee

                        WWW.HOMESTYLEANDSTAGING.COM

                     HOMESTYLEANDSTAGING@COMCAST.NET

                          (865) 368-8484

For your staging, re-design, de-cluttering and holiday decorating           needs please give us a call

 

                          

 

                                                                                           

    

Comments(6)

Show All Comments Sort:
Angel Walker
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Johns Creek, GA
How horrifying!  Homeowners need to check portfolios and references to safeguard their investment.  It's a shame this bad apple is out there.  Word will get out.  They can't possibly stay in business long if this is how they operate.
Jan 17, 2008 10:15 AM
Jeff Thompson
Thompsons Home Inspections - Palmdale, CA
Mary Lou thats a great story and like every career or business we have some go all out to look good while others come in to make a quick buck and don't care. I believe that as long as I do my best and work hard people will see and want to use me again or pass my name along.  For I plan on being around as a home inspector for a long time.
Jan 17, 2008 10:16 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

I have seen stagers who charge too little and do disasterous jobs & I have seen stagers who charge ridiculous rates who then make agents & homeowners feel that staging is not affordable.  Both ways we have to do more work to clean up their messes....

It definately sounds like the stager in question did a disasterous job, but at the same time I would say if they only paid $450 they probably got what they paid for... did they research this at all?  Did they ask questions?  Did they just take the lowest bid?  Most of the times I have seen disasterous staging the latter was the case.  They called other stagers out, and then went really cheap. 

Jan 17, 2008 10:19 AM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Melissa: This stager was a referral from a friend of the homeowners. I really do not think that this homeowner did any checking, he just took the referral and went with it. I wish that the Realtors had taken photos.

Jeff: You are right, we all just have to do our best and stay professional.

Jan 17, 2008 10:32 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.
This had a happy ending for you and hopefully the homeowner learned a lesson...and got it done right.  Thanks for the post
Jan 17, 2008 03:56 PM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

Yes I have seen this as I mentioned in one of my posts months ago. I lost a bid to a stager for a vacant model home and the price tags were left on the accessories, even the one that said 50% off in red!

I had a staging from a realtor that I work with all the time. Her client lived in CA and had very little money. I charged her only $450.00 and promised the realtor I would do my best to make it look nice. I can tell you while they are not getting top of the line rented furniture to fill every room, I still go out of my way to present the home as nicely as I can with using my inventory and accessories. Here is a pic of the DR area,

 

I also staged a small vignette in the LR and in the MBR used a blow up mattress. We have to think out of the box and still do our very best to make the home as pretty as possible.

Phyllis Pafumi

Jan 18, 2008 12:23 AM