What is Home Staging? Seems Many Think it Simply Means Emptying Out the Rooms!

O.K. now that I've got your attention...

I've been looking at some of the very recent staging 'gradutates' new websites and their portfolios. This post is not about the training course they have taken as I have no idea what they are taught. They do post their newly purchased Trademark alphabets though, so I do know they have taken the training.

This post is about my perception gleaned from perusing these new web sites and the staging on display. I won't be posting examples...it is not my intention to make an example of anyone.  

I recently posted on my blog about the Staging Industry being undermined by the practices of individuals and staging training companies with their marketing 'staging' as being something 'anyone can learn'. Well, judging by the portfolios I saw today...that is exactly what these stager's work looks like.

There page after page of before and afters where all that was done was remove the majority of furniture and accessories out of the room. How many family rooms do you know with only a couch and coffee table?

There could be any number of reasons for these photos:

• one which comes to mind is due to the fact that the properties were lived in rather than vacant...yeah...but still, you'd think it would only be the odd before and after
• what better explains it to me is many of these people do not have any concept of design fundamentals (either inherent or learned)

Simply removing furniture does not make a room staged...does not make for a transformation. At this point in time...I don't think these recent grads are ready to hit the stage running but are in need of mentoring.

Are grads 'thrown to the dogs'? Can we help them get a better start?

Where are the mentors?

If I had enough work I'd be happy to mentor. The training businesses that crank out thousands of new stagers yearly...they could help their students succeed with a mentor program.