Staging Stories…Lessons Learned
While searching for photos of staging examples, I began reflecting on some early lessons I learned.
No matter how long you’ve been in your field, you are always presented with opportunities to learn something new. When you’re just beginning…every call, every consultation, every meeting becomes a learning moment or on-the-job classroom.
Here are just a few lessons I learned when I began staging.
Give your client what they’re paying you for.
My first staging consultation was a beautiful home in Northern VA. The sellers were out of town but their agent walked me through. It was in good condition, kept up, and only needed a few tweeks, except for…
In the focal point of the family room was a large religious shrine in their bookcase. There was also ivy growing up along the window..in fact the roots were growing into the wall.
Religion aside, the shrine and ivy were blocking the view of the garden as well as distracting any buyer from seeing the possibilities of the room.
I was concerned about offending the seller however I realized that I would not be doing my job if I did not point this out.
The seller understood and when we returned a few weeks later, the shrine had been packed and the ivy removed.
Lesson- the client is paying you for your experience and expertise. Be tactful and truthful.
Give them just enough
Early on I had many inquiries for vacant staging proposals. It didn’t take me long to realize that a few wanted to pick my brain, then rent their own furnishings and bypass my fee.
Lesson- It’s human nature to ask and want to save money. What I learned was to give my client just enough so they understood what services I provided but not so much that my services weren’t needed.
These aren’t my only lessons. And I continued to learn with every staging.
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