FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Yes. As former President of the Washington, DC Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), I facilitated monthly meetings in order to stay current on trends, promote the staging industry, and assist each other in growing our businesses. I also attend the yearly Real Estate Staging Association conference. I also work with many vendors such as granite, carpet and tile in order to remain informed about new products entering the market. In addition, I attend both trade shows and designer showrooms on a regular basis. As the owner of a small business, education is key to success.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
We lived in Northern California for a few years and decided to move back to Virginia in 2005. The Real Estate agent who listed our home offered Home Staging as a service for listing. It was my first experience with staging, and I knew immediately it was something that I wanted to do. It's an interesting experience to be on the receiving end of staging advice, and I feel it provides me with unique insight into what my clients are experiencing. Two years later, I became an Accredited Staging Professional and opened Staged by Designî, and haven't looked back since. In 2011, we staged over 120 homes in the Northern Virginia area.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
We work with home owners who simply need consultations, as well as those living in their home while it is on the market. The majority of our business, however, comes from staging vacant homes. Staged by Designî has the ability to furnish 20 homes simultaneously with our inventory. Over the years have staged properties as small as 955 sq. feet to over 10,000 square feet These range from a contemporary condo at Turnberry Towers in Arlington, to an historic home Winchester, VA. Each home is unique and our job is to meet the demographic of the buyer coming in, as well as to highlight the best features of the home itself.