Let's Barter!

Sounds like a great barter to me!  I haven't done much myself but I can see how it would be helpful.

You Bet Lisa!  Right now I am helping design a Doctor's office in exchange for botox, collagen and whatever other wonderful things he wants to throw my way!  I'm all for it!  I figure we are both being redesigned.  ( :

Cheers!

Lisa ~ I wouldn't be opposed to bartering; in fact, I'm sure I could think of some things that I would love to barter for (like having the brick relaid on my patio that my husband took up last year and now has no time to fix!).   How do you go about it?  Would you just call someone you'd be interested in bartering with and offer/ask?

Gina ~ you are too funny!

I love to barter. Depends on what it is for of course. We just got a large formal gate for our house/driveway for free. My husband just had to spend 7 hours removing it from my clients property. Kym

Bartering is what got me started with my first clients.  I met an agent at a yard sale. She asked me what I do, I told her staging and she told me she was an agent.  She had a small vacant that had been on the market for four months and no offers.  She asked if I'd be willing to stage it for her in exchange for a spot on a Parade of Homes bus tour full of real estate agents and that I'd get to speak at the front of the bus before they were let off the bus.  What a great deal that turned out to be.  I made lots of contacts, received jobs from it and it took away my stage fright. 

I'm definetly for it.

Lisa, I love to barter!  I currently barter services with a computer genius, it works for all of us!!!! Good job.

LOVE bartering! My honey is a CPA and he barters all the time. We get all our landscaping done, and picture framing and all sorts of things through bartering. I barter with one of my stager friends who also owns a promotional products company. I assist her on projects, and she gives me breaks on company pens or whatever!

Me too!  Keeping an open mind is what can make it happen.  I usually just mention the option in casual conversation and if they want design services but can't continue, due to cost, then I openly pop the question.  I've been getting my hair cut, colored and more for over a year in a barter and I want more such opportunities.  Problem is today most people need the cash for their services. 

Also you need to consider being willing to pay cash for products.  For instance, when I bought art for my hair lady she paid up front for that so I'm mainly just trading for my time.  If she uses product on my hair, (color etc.) then I pay for that outside of the trade.  This usually helps the situation.

Bring on the bartering!

Thanks Lisa for bringing up the opportunity to share and learn about this.   

I bartered for my car lettering... and they look great. I have heard you should never barter but always charge for services no matter what? Anyone have thoughts about this?

Well, the concept it great and I think you just have to be choosy.  IF people think you are too willing not to be paid, they begin to undervalue what you do.  The other problem for me with it is that we give them the impression that we don't have expenses to pay for before, during, after our stagings.  We have to pay for the truck, inventory, help, etc...and we don't seem as if we do when we barter, or am I wrong?  Just thinking out loud.  Of course, Realtors don't barter much, and that's just my opinion. 

Lisa, Great post.. I have tried doing it before for our cabin rentals in the Smokies but that didn't really work out too well... I would love to get manicures and really need some skin care !!  God bless,

I bartered with my hair stylist.  I get free cuts and color, she got a living room re-design and we occasionally hit auctions and estate sales together to choose new thinks for her home!  I love it because I am at the sales anyway to shop for my mom's antique store and I can get my hair done every 6 weeks without feeling guilty!  I think if you are trading your time for their time, it is a great trade.

I too love to barter.  My dad likes to barter and used to have a deal with the local drug store.  I would go there and fill a bag, it was so cool.  I like making deals for appraisals although not too many people need it...I'm always trying

Recently I bartered with a contractor friend of mine who was selling his own residence.  The house had been on the market for 2.5 years without an offer and my friend was putting every penny he made into $7,000 in monthly mortgage payments as he had already moved into his new home. 

I offered to stage the house which SOLD in only 2 months after staging.  He has so far replaced my garbage disposal and a section of my backyard fence.  I have my eye on granite counters and he will install them as part of our trade.  It was definitely a win win situation as I am getting some of the misc. home repairs off my list.