Safety Tips for Home Stagers

Safety Tips for Home Stagers

While stagers aren’t as exposed to meeting with people they’ve never met as often as agents, we still need to be alert. There are a few instances from my own staging experiences that I can remember where I should have been more cautious.

 

The first thing to do is remove from your mind the idea that it can’t happen to you.

 

Follow what agents do...know who you’re doing business with.

We’re so excited when the phone rings and someone wants a stager, good judgment can take a back seat.

It’s easier if an agent or someone you know refers them but that isn’t always the case.

Or what if someone calls saying they are an agent?

You can’t assume anything.

We have the tools today to do what we can to verify people.  If nothing else, Google someone. Do a reverse lookup of their phone number.

 

Listen to your gut…

I don’t know about you but mine is always right.

If not your gut, then those little hairs on the back of your neck that stand up?   Listen to those as well.

There is no job worth your life. Period!!!!

 

Check on the property…

You can Google anything these days so find out about the property.

If it is listed who is the listing agent?

You can always contact the agent to learn more about the property. And, it’s a good way of introducing yourself and your services to another agent.

 

Don’t go alone…

If you are going to a vacant home to assess it before staging it, take someone if you can.

(My husband went with me a few occasions to help me measure rooms, etc)

Write down the name, address, and phone number of the contact.

Have someone call you after a set time to check on you. You can always send a coded “I am safe” message to that person.

(I actually did that when I had to a consultation in a questionable neighborhood!)

 

Safety while staging…

If you are staging a vacant home always have your charged phone on your person.

 

This may be cumbersome but if you are alone while unloading inventory, lock the door every time you go out to the car, AND lock the door once you are inside.

(I was surprised once as I was about to walk out of the house for more furniture. Standing in the entry was a female. Thankfully, all she wanted to know was if she could view the home as she was in the market.

I told her that she would have to call her agent or the listing agent but I could not let her in.)

 

Useful apps for your phone…

Life 360 This is a free app suggested to me by Sharon Tara and I have had it on my phone for several years now.

You can see where others are via this app. All they have to do is agree to this and have the app on their phone.

Learn how to use the emergency service on your smartphone.

 

Learn how to use the emergency services on your Apple watch or other “smart” watch.

 

Consider adding a safety app to your phone.

You have to find one that works for you but there are apps such as bSafe or Noonlight.

 

Whatever you do, always remember that your life if more important than staging a home.

Be alert!

 

  

 

 

Check out my about.me profile!

Room Service! Home Staging
Palm Beach County Home Stager

561-914-6224   Kathy@MrsHomeStaging.com
www.MrsHomeStaging.com

               

 

 

 

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