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You're a Home Stager? How fun! Home Staging Minneapolis MN

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

Yes I am and yes it is. It is an extremely fun and rewarding career and one that allows me to be creative over and over again. But...it's not for everyone.

As soon as someone finds out I am a Home Stager besides saying "What a fun job", the next thing is either "I have always wanted to do that". Or "How do you become a Home Stager?"

I always encourage people to follow their passion and do what they love. Life is short and you should have fun doing life. However, Home Staging is not for everyone.

Oh and before I forget.....WATHCING HGTV DOES NOT MAKE YOU A DESIGNER OR HOME STAGER. I have watched Dancing With the Stars for almost ten years and I still am not a Star nor a Professional Dancer. Shucks.

There are a few things you should be good at to be a Home Stager:

Being able to think outside of the box:

Every house is different and you will come across some tough floor plans and unusual situations. It is your job to find a fix for all situations.

Have a creative eye:  Blue-eye

Certain things can be taught and some weaknesses can be turned around through training. However, I truly believe either you are creative or you aren't. You know if you are, just like you know if you are good at math. 

Being able to Visualize:

Some people are creative but need to see things in front of them to pull it together. As a Home Stager you need to see things before they are created. You need to be able to visualize. Again....I believe this is one area that you either can or can't do. It can't be taught but if you have this gifting it can be strengthened.

You have to be good with people:

You will be working with all kinds of people. Young and old, crabby and  joyful, nice and not so nice. You need to be able to work with all kinds of people and be able to convince them why doing what you suggest will be to their best interest.

Woman-lifting-a-dumbbell  It's a Physical Job:

As a Home Stager you will be pushing furniture, do a lot of lifting, bending and hammering. It's not a cushy job and you will be exhausted at the end of most days.

The next thing I tell people , and the most important, is you have to be trained and certified. I repeat....WATCHING HGTV DOES NOT MAKE YOU A DESIGNER OR A STAGER.

There are many courses out there for training and this is how I would sum them up.

1) Ask questions to find out what type of class best fits you. If you have been trained as a designer or been doing home staging for years but never been Certified an online course is all you may need.

2) If you are not trained in Design OR just starting out as a Home Stager I highly recommend a Hands On Course. You want to learn by doing, not watching or you may as well watch HGTV and think you know it all.

3) Do your Homework on Hands On Courses as they are not all the same. You want to look for a course that will allow you to practice with furnishings and accessories. You want to plan and work on actual homes that are going to be put on the market. You want to work on occupied homes, vacant homes and learn how to do Consultations during your training. In training like everything in life you get what you pay for.

 

Creekside Tabletop

 

Twice a year I hold a Hands On Training and Certification Course in Minneapolis, MN. If you are looking for that new fun career in Home Staging you can get more information at Courses In Home Staging

My next course is October 21-24, 2015 in Minneapolis! I would love to assist you in pursuing your dream.

 

Shar Sitter, owner Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis MN.

CHSE and APSD Home Stager Pro Trainer

 www.RoomsWithStyle.com

952-567-1124
 

Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Oh yes....those failures Shirley Coomer . Thanks for reminding me! ha. Sorry to hear you aren't a Star or pro dancer yet either. 

Love watching those shows too Linda Metallo DiBenardo . And being an investor/flipper is another skill too and just because I assist investors with all design choices doesn't mean I could do everything they do.  We all have our skills!

Much different than decorating/designing for sure Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner . I do both and I always explain the difference to my staging clients before I start. 

Sep 12, 2015 07:25 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good afternoon Shar. I like your dancing reference and think it is appropriate. You're the best. It is always easy when someone else is doing it.

Sep 12, 2015 07:35 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Isn't that the truth Sheila Anderson ! 

 

Sep 12, 2015 07:41 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

I lot of people don't realize the hazards of being a home stager!  My arms and legs are always bruised from bumping into and carrying things.  Two years ago, I had a very bad fall while staging and my knee will never fully recover.  However, being creative and helping people move on to the next phase of their lives is very rewarding!

Sep 12, 2015 09:10 AM
marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

garaughty, abstract art, graphic design, marketing, WordPress consultant

Sep 12, 2015 12:44 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Shar a great post - and full of important information. The video is wonderful.  What a nice presentation.

Sep 12, 2015 01:24 PM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Shar Sitter 

Really great post. Some people are just afraid to give something new a try people like you help give us the courage. 

Sep 12, 2015 02:07 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I love the post . Great presentation. You are a good home stager. 

Sep 12, 2015 09:26 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

This reminds me of the concept of shopping. I am no good at it yet it appears to be easy enough. Example: In my young, naive years, I would shop and find a shirt and then buy 7 of them one for every day but different colors. Getting married changed all that...Staging? Anyone can place an item anywhere but there are those that do indoor type sunrises and sunsets, rainbows and eye candy pretty well...that be you guys! Good posting here Shar Sitter 

Sep 12, 2015 11:19 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Good point about HGTV not making a stager. Not a real estate agent, either, I might add. LOL. Every time we have one of my listings staged, I marvel at the incredible difference it makes.

Sep 12, 2015 11:24 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Yes, people often forget to be a home stager you need to be able to deal with homeowners, investors, and clients in general. Just because you're creative does not mean you're cut out to be a small business owner. 

Sep 13, 2015 12:52 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is great information to share. Thanks for providing some of your personal perspective.

Have a most productive week.

Sep 13, 2015 01:36 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Bruised is the name of the game in this business Maureen!

Thank you for the feature Marti Garaughty !

Thank you for the kind words Joan Whitebook , much appreciated!

Yes fear can bind us all at times Alan Kirkpatrick .

Why thank you Gita Bantwal .

Sep 13, 2015 01:55 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Too funny about the shirts Richie Alan Naggar . Glad your wife was able to assist with your shopping.  Thank you very much for the kind words. 

Very true Margaret Woda . HGTV doesn't make us anyone different! Glad to hear you use a stager for your listings. 

 

Sep 13, 2015 01:58 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Exactly Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert . I am a marriage counselor half the time as well. In my trainings I stress the business part because you may be a very good stager but it doesn't mean you will be successful. 

Thank you Roy Kelley . Have a great week as well! 

Sep 13, 2015 02:00 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Shar Sitter wish I was in MN and learn the tricks of the staging trade...lol!

Yes, there are a few who will make this statement true...

WATCHING HGTV DOES NOT MAKE YOU A DESIGNER OR A STAGER.

Sep 13, 2015 08:17 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

MN is beautiful this time of year Praful Thakkar . :) 

Sep 13, 2015 11:13 PM
Mery Fernandez Empire Network Realty Luxury Brokerage
Empire Network Realty INC. - Orlando, FL
The Rise of An Empire, Let's Build Yours!

Hello and congratulations on your featured blog post! Well done and hope to see you have many more featured post.

Sep 14, 2015 12:21 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thank you so much Mery Fernandez Empire Network Realty Luxury Brokerage !

Sep 15, 2015 12:26 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Great reality check, Shar!  I always feel like I've been run over by a Mack truck at the end of a long staging day.  This is not for the faint of heart!

Sep 29, 2015 10:02 AM