What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My continuing education consists of monthly meetings with the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) Denver Chapter, and an annual IAHSP Convention where cutting edge ideas are shared by the top Staging professionals in the country.
As a recognized leader and expert in my field, I have been asked to speak at every convention to share my insights and knowledge.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your service? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing for services varies depending on what is needed.
When the Seller wants to do the work to Stage their house and needs to know what to do - that is a Staging Consultation Report. It's a documented summary of what is needed - room by room, and includes curb appeal and landscaping suggestions.
The Staging Consultation starts at $125 and goes up from there based on the square footage of the house and time needed to prepare the report.
Consultations are most often prepared on occupied houses where Sellers have things to work with (furniture and decor) and just need to know what to pack up, remove, and rearrange. Occassionally it will include the addition of furnishings and decor to help update the house and these are purchased by the Seller or rented from the Stager.
When the Seller wants me to do the work I am going to provide a Staging Pricing Proposal where I share my prices to hire me and my team to do the Staging work.
I do a complimentary preview of the house in order to get a feel for the floor plan, figure out which rooms need to be Staged and begin to mentally Stage the house. It's difficult to provide a price on a property I have not seen in person - and clients need to allow that preview to take place.
Proposals are most often done for Vacant houses but can also be done on occupied properties where the Seller wants our team to just come in and Stage their house so it gets done quickly and it not a stressful situation for the seller.
Once I have seen the house, then I prepare a Staging Proposal where I am paid to Stage the house - making furniture selections, installing the furniture and decor and then removing the items once the house is sold. Or if it is an occupied house the proposal would include time for Staging the house room by room, using what the Seller has. This could include packing and removal of items as well.
The pricing for a vacant house varies based on the number of rooms being Staged, size of rooms, and price-point of the house. For most vacant houses we Stage only the KEY rooms of the house - it is rare that we would Stage the entire house and it's a good idea to get a professional opinion on just what areas are necessary to Stage before making any decisions.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
I have always been creative - painting and doing crafts. I was tired of the corporate rat race and politics and had come home to raise my 4 children. When it became necessary for me to once again contribute financially to our family, I decided I was going to look for something I could do from home that used my creativity, was lucrative, and part time.
I lived in an area of the country where Staging was prevalent and had moved to an area where it was totally unknown. I looked at that as my opportunity to start the first Staging company in a large metro area - and built a very successful business.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I provide a detailed report consultation for Staging a house for sale - letting a Seller know exactly what they need to do room by room to get their house show ready. This is most often done on an occupied or furnished house where the seller has things to work with.
I provide furnishing and decor for vacant houses focusing on the key rooms in the house. This helps the house feel more inviting, it gives buyers an idea of how large the rooms are versus looking at a photo of an empty room, and helps houses sell faster.
Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
I recently Staged a house that had been on the market for a year, did not sell and then was rented out for a year. The Sellers decided to try their hand at Selling again, and wanted the house Staged. They interviewed 4 other Stagers before they contacted me. The Sellers were turned off by the others Stagers who were bossy, arrogant, overpriced, or lacked the quality they sought.
I met with the Seller, explained how I worked, asked them what their budget was, and made my Staging work fit within their parameters.
The house received a full price offer in 10 days after Staging! Sensational Home Staging works!
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
When hiring a professional Home Stager, ask for credentials and training as the industry is not regulated and anyone that wants to can set up a Staging company. Ask if the Stager is insured and licensed to do business. Ask if the Stager has any value-added services to help you as the client. Check their website and look at testimonials from other clients.
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
Customers are watching TV Shows and I want them to know that a Professional Stager is not like what they see on television. My colleagues that are trained like I am are taught how to handle a client and treat them with respect. What I see on TV is cruel, critcism, and mean treatment of the Seller - all for entertainment value. Also the prices being quoted on TV are very high compared to what the reality is of actual professional Home Staging.
