Fabulous information for people considering a staging business. Maureen is an established stager who really knows the business.
Read and enjoy!
Many of us regularly receive emails or calls from "wannabe" stagers .... I've had so many that I came up with a letter to send them. They deserve to know the "reality" of the staging business and not just hear about how "easy" it is (as shown on TV and by some staging training companies) ....
Dear Wannabe Stager,
Thank you for inquiring about the home staging business. I’m often contacted by people who’d like to know more about staging and how to get started. One of the most important things to consider is that professional stagers should be committed to running a business which is so much more than “decorating” someone’s home. There are a lot of costs to consider, such as:
- Inventory and props – even if you plan to rent some of the furnishings, you’ll still need to invest a substantial amount of money into accessories, rugs, wall décor, linens, plants, etc. The cost of these items adds up much quicker than you might imagine.
- Storage space – once you’ve accumulated accessories and small furnishings you’ll soon find that you need more than just your garage or spare bedroom to store them. Public storage or warehouse space will add to your expenses.
- Special insurance to cover your staging company for liability in the event you or your helpers damage something in the client’s home, and also to cover your staging inventory whether it’s in transit, in the client’s home, in storage, or in your own home.
- Legal help – you’ll need a good business attorney who can help you develop a staging contract for occupied & vacant homes; this is very important as you’ll find that being in other people’s home exposes you to liability you may not have thought about, or what happens to your rented staging inventory in the event of non-payment, etc. It’s best to seek help even if you have a “template” contract, to make sure everything in it applies in your state.
- A good accountant who can help with taxes and what requirements your city & county have for small business owners.
- Labor help with packing, loading & unloading, transport, and the actual staging and de-staging.
- Register your business with the city and county you’re in and get the proper instructions on your responsibilities; get a TAX ID number.
A domain name for your website & a reputable host for it; SEO help to get your site noticed.
- A great blogging platform to help your business grow (Active Rain)
- A portfolio and website with photos of your own work (not the work of your training company or stock photos off the internet!).
- A reliable vehicle that can carry your many staging props to each job.
- Office space with a good computer, printer & supplies ~ and good computer skills.
- Marketing advice on the look of your company logo, letterhead stationery, flyers, etc.
- Investment in advertising & marketing to potential clients in your area.
- Cost of joining local professional organizations to network and get support from others in the industry
- Sources for purchasing your inventory and for local furniture rental if needed.
- The ability to give presentations to Realtors and Homeowners
These are just a few of the things to consider when thinking about setting up a staging company. The best advice I can give someone interested in staging as a career ~ and not just a hobby ~ is to take one of the professional foundation staging training courses that are available (some are better than others so be sure to get recommendations from established stagers). Continuing education in this field is vitally important. It’s also just as important to maintain contact with other local stagers for support and to further our common goals. We have a lot of work to do to educate real estate agents and homeowners about the powerful benefits of staging their properties.
If you’re truly committed to starting a professional staging company then I hope this advice has been of help to you. Home staging is an extremely rewarding career ~ but please don't quit your current job just yet until you've really considered all the facts. You may also want to read this blog post about running a staging company. Best of luck to you as you move forward with meeting your goals!
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Maureen Bray is a fulltime professional home stager in Portland Oregon.
Staging that sells Portland homes!
Lori Kim Polk and Ryan Dressel are owners of Stage Right Design, a full service Home Staging and Design Corporation and nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry located in Roseville, California. Lori and Ryan have combined forces in order to better serve their growing list of clients in the Sacramento areas. They have been recently featured in Staging Standard Magazine, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, KFBK radio and SMUD's Home of the Future. Sponsors for the PCAR 2010 Masters Club Awards and proudly serving Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento, and surrounding areas with exceptional home staging.
See our most recent listings: Listings for Stage Right Design
We are presently the #1 Staging Company in the Sacramento area having staged over 50 homes in the first 2 quarters of 2010. Our stats say it all.....current DOM with our staging is 20 days. Call us today at 916-300-0402 or 916-517-5710 for our premier services. "We are changing this market one home at a time!"
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We are professionals, this is a legit business. There is no magic bullet to making money. "Wanna be" stagers have to be realistic. Being self employed has it's pros and cons and it's not for everyone. If you love Staging, you figure out how to make it work. Just like any other real job! This is not a great economy for any business but at least when I wake up in the morning, I look forward to what do. (I like my boss too!)
I have been in business for almost a year - and yes it is hard work. But the rewards are worth it. Growing a business is a challenge. There is so much to consider and learn. As you mentioned continuing education is vital to keep your business current. There are a variety of learning tools and workshops to expand the knowledge base. My company Clarity Over Clutter offers Home Staging Services, Professional Organizing, Downsizing and Estate Organizing. Constantly reading, researching, learning and talking about the business is a big part of my life. Working to build strong supports both in the Home Staging and the Professional Organizing Industries in Winnipeg, Manitoba, benefits both my associates and myself. I am very aware that how I market and carry out my business reflects on all the local Staging and Organizing Companies. Having strong Associations that I can draw support and information from is also very helpful.
Home Staging is really still an emerging industry. Reading and listening to a number of established Staging Companies and looking at statistics - STAGING WORKS
Lori, Thanks for posting Maureen's letter. I'll refer the many people who call me for an "intern job" to this blog so they can get the whole picture. They all say that they want a job as a stager, but not one has said they want to run a business. Huge difference!