Because the end result of a staged home can be a great visual impression, home staging is seen as an image industry. Image companies in the fields of advertising, interior design, and landscaping have for long known that to sell and grow their own businesses; they must present a good visual image of themselves. As image businesses they know and rely on their logos, business cards and websites to communicating their knowledge and creative skill to apply basic design principals in their respective fields.
If home stagers are going to sell to home owners the need and importance of investing money to beautify their homes, which is the product they are selling, then the stager needs to invest money in to do the same for what they sell... which is their staging services To be competitive, a home stager needs to invest in their business image. A stager's image, communicated through a business card, brochure, website and portfolio, must demonstrate knowledge of and skill to apply basic design principals. Doing anything less is hypocritical.
Home stagers also need to practice what the preach to Realtors. If stagers are going profess and advise the importance of using good photography to capture and present a home for sale on-line, then again, a stager needs to do the same for photography they show of the their work on-line. A stager's on-line portfolio is a key, yet often overlooked, tool communicate quality, skill and ability.
Stagers can maximize their on-line credibility is by addressing the following 3 points with their portfolio.
- Show Versatility & Proficiency - Every market is different and a stager's work should represent the types of homes being sold in the markets they serve. However the more depth and diversity a stager can show the better. The most compelling portfolios will show staging work that was done in both big and small homes, vacant and occupied homes, low to high end homes, and the ability in to work with a variety of design styles.
- Use the Same View Point - Proof of a stager's skill and ability is often shown in Before & After photographs. But quite often the Before photo is taken from a totally different position in a room, from the After photo. The best sales testament and visually dramatic impact Before & After photography will have is when the Before & After photo is taken from the EXACT same angle.
- Take Quality Photos - While it may not be possible to take perfect and compelling Befores, the After image needs to be well photographed. Over flashed, under flashed, and blurry photos will hurt even the best staged After transformation. Stagers that invest the time and money to take quality photos visually communicate their commitment to their profession.
Like it or not.... just as a home that is for sale is being judged by how it looks, stagers are being judge by the business image they show. The best home stagers will picture what they preach.
Stage It Forward...
MeHi Craig, Great photos! I also like how for a majority of them you use the same or similar angle for the before and after shots.
It's one of my pet peeves when stagers don't use the same angles to show before and after shots of their work so it's nice to see you doing it right.
Alan
I have to agree with your point about the before and after pictures - they lose credibility when they are taken from different angles.
Craig - I loved the slideshow - your work is beautiful. I especially liked seeing some of the smaller occupied homes that you did using the clients existing furnishings. You are the man!
This is a great point if the Stager does the work from consultation through pick up of props.
But some of us have found a great niche in consultations. We don't see the out come of the thrifty homeowners work. We do between 3-6 consultationsa day now and are growing.(that's why the absents from AR lately:) and for those who want to do the work off our DIY blue print we proved them to save money we don't see the end product to take pictures, only a thank you call from the Realtors we work with or the homeowners.
I believe Staging has many levels or at least the Stager has, depending on what is working well for them.
BB
Craig,
Thanks for the post. Nothing like having someone on board, who delivers every time!
Hi Craig! Love the slideshow...and excellent blog as always.
There are many, many stagers out there that I want to call up and say, can I help you with your website. You'd make so much more money if you had a website that reflected the beauty of your work. Ugh!
All the best,
Beth
I agree, I have spent a lot of money marketing my company "image" from the business cards, website, marketing materials, rack cards and the info on my car. It all tells a story and looks professional and from the comments I receive from clients and realtors, it has worked.
Your slide show is awesome.. and I love the home color scheme! You really have a great sense of design and I enjoy reading your blog.
Gosh... I'm blown away. Wow! How did you do the slide show? Can you A/R contact e-mail me because I might forget to come back here and check for your response later in the week. Exceptional writing. Strong points. Thank you.
Scanning through your blog, reading a little here and a little there...
Love this post.
What a wonderful way to show your talent.
Great photos.
Craig ~ You couldn't be more correct. Pictures express a 1000 words. If a home stager and/or Realtor can take a picture - hire a professional. Your pictures are top notch.
Comments(40)