Blog - Page 11 of 27 - HSR Home Staging Certification Training

6 Things You Should Know About the Staging Industry for 2017

As I prepare for the 2017 RESA Convention, I realize that there are a few things about the staging industry that is dramatically different than in years past.  Last year, I spoke with hundreds of home stagers who all had some interesting advice, learning lessons and business tips I wanted to share in this post since I'm seeing a shift in the staging industry and anticipate even more for 2017:

#1

Talented Stagers are "Killing It"!

The staging industry is growing leaps and bounds and stagers who have a real design talent are busier than ever before! So many of the stagers that I spoke with said they have to turn down work or refer it elsewhere there is such a need for their services. 

2017 promises to be even hotter for the staging industry as homes still uptick in value, Millennials enter the market and Baby Boomers downsize...that means lots of positive movement in the housing market!

Stephanie Cutlip

Stephanie Cutlip of Beyond the Door Interiors in Tampa, FL sent me an email only 6 months after joining HSR telling me:

Hi Audra, my business is taking off so much I can't keep up.  All of the houses that I have staged have sold within a week.  I've quickly learned that I want to focus on interior decorating and redesign.  Staging has opened that door for me....Thank you for a wonderful training program. I wish I had more time to follow you.

Beyond the Door Transformation

#2

Great Staging is a Gateway to Design Work

Designers are losing business to the home staging industry.  Why?  Because the designer's number one target market is the "New Home Owner" and that market is working with a home stager FIRST as a Home Seller before they become a new home owner.  Home stager's get "first crack" at that market and in my training I go into detail how to position "Move-In Design" services to sellers, so that your business grows!

Stephanie mentioned above that the staging is what has grown her design business in less than 6 months...how awesome is that?

This is why going with a training company that covers BOTH home staging and redesign is essential to getting a full understanding of the industry and how to capitalize and grow your business.  I talk about discovering your niche in my free webinar on January 11, so if you're feeling like a hamster on a wheel, you will want to attend that free event!


#3

Real Estate Agents are "Getting It"

It used to be that home stager's would spend quite a bit of time having to educate real estate agents on the benefits of home staging BUT now it's the agents who "get it" and are educating the seller.  I spoke with so many stagers who all said that their agent partners know the sales price of the home will never be as good if the home is not "dialed in" by an objective stager.

The savvy agent who wants to have the reputation of getting top dollar will "insist" on the home being professionally staged.

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#4

There is Plenty of Work for All Stagers!

The staging industry is NOT a saturated market, so there’s plenty of business for everyone!  In fact, the Staging Mentor program that we introduced a few years back (and won the RESA Innovative Service of the Year Award) resulted in several Staging Mentors bringing their trainees to the conference! Our list of amazing Staging Mentors is growing because as an industry, we are all dedicated to our craft, elevating the quality of work and creating opportunities in staging, styling and design that you would not have found years back.

Michelle Minch, Me and Laurie

Michelle Minch of Moving Mountains Design a Los Angeles Mentor has connected with several of her trainees at the RESA Convention.  In the photo above, I'm with Michelle and Laurie Mattson an HSR stager   out of Twin Cities, Minnesota who won the RESA Top Ten Stager Award a year after mentoring with Michelle.

Here are some photos of Laurie's great work...get ready to drool...

Laurie Mattson of Rooms With Impact

Laurie Mattson of Rooms With Impact

Laurie Mattson of Rooms With Impact

Laurie Mattson of Rooms With Impact


#5

Great Training = Business Success

The 2016 RESA Conference marked the third year in a row that the US Stager of the Year was a HSR Certified Home Stager and graduate of our program!  Just like "not all home stagers are equal", certainly not all home staging training companies are equal!  I've seen so many training companies come and go over the last 11 years, so don't short change yourself and DO YOUR RESEARCH.   If the training company doesn't do anything to build awareness (blog) and market you (have a directory of stagers), then don't invest in them.

Becoming a home stager takes a lot of time, education, resources, connections, knowledge and hard work. There’s a lot to know in this industry because staging is an EXTREME art form.  The "business" of staging involves many different types of needs from vacant to occupied AND great staging leads to design, so make sure to pick a home staging training that covers both business models.  A stager needs to be connected to continued education, designer discounts and resources to better serve their clients and that's why I'm always on the hunt for saving my members time and money!

#6

The Staging "Body of Work" Has Greatly Improved & Stager's are Awesome People

This point follows on all the others because when I look at home staging photos today and compare it to five years ago, it blows me away! One of the main reasons for the improvement in design work is that sellers truly get what they pay for when it comes to staging.  If a seller tries to low budget a staging project, the results will be less than stellar.  Spending a bit more for a model home look will net the seller so much more in the resell and agents are very aware of this!

This is an industry filled with generous, kind-hearted, smart, strong and artistically talented individuals that is such a pleasure and privilege to be a part of!  If you've been rearranging rooms since you were a kid, then consider joining me at the RESA Convention and becoming a home stager.  Don't put it off since there's never been a better time!

Some Beautiful HSR Graduates at the Last RESA Convention

Ready to make 2017 your year and become a professional stager?

As I prepare for the 2017 RESA Convention, I realize that there are a few things about the staging industry that is dramatically different than in years past…

Home Staging Photos

I never get tired of hearing how my HSR members are doing and especially SEEING their incredible home staging photos!  I get quick emails daily about how starting a home staging business has changed their life, along with home staging photos and success stories of home's that sat on the market for months, now selling for a great price because it was staged. 

Seeing is believing, so in this post I'm going to display people's exact words and their gorgeous home staging photos...enjoy!

Michelina of NJ Home Staging and Design

Hi Audra, I just wanted to share some of my success! Since I started your HSR program 9 months ago I’ve done almost 40 home staging projects! I do almost 5 a week currently...steady each week now.

My business is exploding, I’m in NJ and a one woman show. I’m a little overwhelmed but do not want to slow down. I attached my website for a few of my projects for you to see...

Michelina's Home Staging Photos...

Michelina's Home Staging and Design


Me and Kristine at RESACon

Hi Audra - I'm so looking forward to seeing you at the RESA Convention and taking your seminar! I just received an email from one of your students.... I raved about HSR and YOU, telling her how much you care about each and every student becoming a successful stager. I also told her it's 6 years later and we are still in touch. I helped her out with some bar stools for a project she's working on. I love representing HSR, which truly put me on the road to building a successful staging company. I attached photos of my work for you to see...

Kristine Ginsberg - Elite Staging and Redesign


Kristine's Home Staging Photos...


Hi Audra,  

Thank you for reaching out to me about my business! I am certainly still just beginning to get my portfolio together but have made some contacts with other professionals and realtors in my area. I can’t thank you enough for having such a thorough course and preparing me for all the aspects of this industry. I have included just a few before/after photos and some design photos as well. I’m still working on my photography skills. 😉 - Heidi Neely, Heidi Elizabeth Designs


Heidi's Home Staging Photos...

Heidi Elizabeth Designs

Heidi Elizabeth Designs


Claudia Johnson - Model By Design

I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am with this program and my new endeavor in this field. I feel so prepared and confident starting my new business because of your program. Worth EVERY SINGLE penny!  Here in Utah looks like there is a void in the market when it comes to home stagers. There really is a demand for it and I am already having a hard time keeping up!

Thanks! from the bottom of my heart! You've changed my life! I am able to stay with my kids and make money doing what I love most!

Claudia's Home Staging Photos...


Darsie Cole - Arroyo Grande, CA  805 Redesign

Honestly, I have been shocked by my interest and desire to get set up with my business and Ive been absolutely swamped with the core material and as a result, I've hardly deviated from your main course information/tutorials.  I love it ...Cruising through life as I was when I found you, I thought this would be a little something fun for the side of everything else I had going. Well now, as I said, I'm consumed and totally committed to my business. Your training absolutely laid it out there succinctly for me to see that my interests absolutely line up with tremendous opportunities and potential that I'd probably would not have recognized without your detailed training and direction.


Darsie's Home Staging Photos...

805 Redesign


Audra, I've been so busy, I'm taking a three week Vacation in San Diego as of today 🙂  I have now 10 homes staged at the moment.  My husband is isolating the pole barn in our yard, so we can heat it. He's happy for my success, but not that I'm taking over his pole barn. lol  Here are a few photos of the latest house...The house was on the market all summer, I staged it and it had two offers in 1 day. 1 was full price 🙂 I am currently in San Diego, may daughter just gave birth to twin boys this morning!

Jeri Jo Meyer, Inspired Home Real Estate out of DeWitt, MI

Jeri Joe's Home Staging Photos...

Inspired Home Real Estate

Inspired Home Real Estate

What Will Your Story Look Like?

Ready to Become a Professional Home Stager and Redesigner?

I never get tired of seeing awesome staging photos…do you? Here’s 6 emails I recently got along with their photo work for you to see…

Home Staging Business Marketing

home staging business

Do You Want to Know Something Crazy?

Most home stagers have no idea how easy it is to market their new business and waste a TON of time on outdated marketing practices that don't get their phone to ring.   I hate to see anyone get frustrated with this industry because it is such a fantastic business model and staging is SUPER HOT right now!  There is a lot to know for a home staging business to get started, so I'm revealing my number one secret for stagers to get noticed right away.

Do You Want to Know My BIGGEST Marketing Secret?  I Can't Believe I'm Sharing This But...

I just put together a 30-minute video on how to get your phone to ring and stay busy as a home staging business that I think you are going to LOVE! If you are super busy and don't need any more business, then this video is not for you...BUT if you want your phone to continue to ring with new business...then this FREE video will do that for you!

The Secret to Getting Your Phone to Ring Right Away!

FREE Video that shows you how to get your phone to ring right away for your home staging business.  Not only do I show you how to use technology to get leads and clients, I also show you a REAL-LIFE example of how I did it!

 

This FREE video will forever change the way you market  your home staging business!

This 30-minute video on how to get your phone to ring right away for a home staging business will change the way you do marketing!  It’s not easy being a home staging business but this quick video shows you how to market your home staging business right away!  Stop struggling with your marketing and start following these easy steps for home staging business marketing.

5 Tips for Getting Home Staging Jobs

I get this question all the time from people interested in becoming a home stager:

"How do I get "hired" as a home stager instead of owning my own company?"

I get it...not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, so I'm going to tell you my 5 hot tips for getting hired on for home staging jobs, as well as give you real life examples of how it happened and their photo transformations...ready?

#1

Get "Formal" Training in Home Staging

This really should not come as a surprise to anyone right?  If you want to become a hair stylist, you go to cosmetology school.  If you want to become a real estate agent, you take the classes and get your license.  Why should the home staging industry be any different?

Certainly  you don't have to have "home staging certification" in this industry to become a home stager (that's one of the beauties of the industry)... BUT if you want another home stager to hire you and see you as a credible, talented, employee it REALLY HELPS!

HSR Grad and one of my FAVORITE stagers in the world, Orlando Reyes a home stager based out of Orlando, Florida​ is a RESA Chapter President and one of my amazing Staging MentorsThe before-and-after photos you see on this page were from a vacant staging job Orlando mentored a recent HSR grad (Keithia) and also hired another HSR grad, Sarah Wake Davies for this job.  He has since hire more HSR grads for his ongoing jobs.

Look how great they look in this on the job "selfy"!

Orlando, Keithia and Sarah working hard!

How did Orlando connect with so many HSR Grads for help on his home staging jobs?  Stagers Connect.  At the Home Staging Resource, we have a very active, private Social Network called Stagers Connect where members collaborate, connect and many times post jobs in our "job posting group" in order to get other qualified, similarly trained HSR stagers to assist.

Living Room BEFORE

Staging Certification does matter when you are hoping to get hired!

Living Room AFTER

#2

Connect With A Veteran Staging Mentor

Once you get some training, I recommend connecting with a Staging Mentor in your area right away!  I have a formal program Staging Mentors program where you can pay to connect with "the best of the best in the industry" for a job shadowing day that will show you all the in's and out's of the job. 

What's makes our Staging Mentors program unique, is that the money goes directly to the pre-qualified, veteran, staging mentor, so they give you an incredible training experience!  You can try and contact mentors directly for work if you don't want to pay (especially if you've been formally trained), but you usually get what you pay for so don't expect them to be very responsive (the good ones get calls almost daily for this).

Kitchen BEFORE

#3

Get A Referral from Your Staging Mentor

Frankly, I would be very surprised if the top two suggestions didn't land you a job if you are a super star.  Staging Mentors are looking for employees all the time, so their best resource is usually the person they mentored already.  BUT if your mentor is not hiring, then you should get a quick letter of recommendation from them for the job you did and use it to send as a reference to other stagers in your area. 

A reference is invaluable and Staging Mentors are some of the most respected stagers in the industry!

Dining Area BEFORE

Dining Area AFTER

#4

Network with Your Local Stagers Through RESA

Make sure to connect with your local Real Estate Staging Association chapter, so you can meet other stagers and find out if any of them are hiring.  Most every Staging Mentor is in leadership at RESA, so they can also guide you to the meetings and best ways to connect with others.  This is an incredible industry of generous individuals, so be open and willing to learn from them all.


Beautifully Staged Bedroom

#5

Be Willing to Work Hard, Learn Tons and Get Along

One thing you learn as an Entrepreneur is that it doesn't matter whether you are working for yourself OR someone else...you have to produce results!  If you are not working hard, connecting with prospects, bringing in business and staging/designing your heart out, then you may not be producing enough to be kept on.  Staging is hard work but oh so rewarding!

This industry is all about learning and growing!  You will NEVER stop learning about design, shopping resources or real estate if you are an awesome stager.  There is so much to know in this industry that it can be overwhelming, so stagers by nature are constant learners.

These kinds of "After" results don't come without A LOT of hard work!

Great "After" Offfice

Finally, if you go through all the of the above and still can't find work with a stager then consider going into business for yourself...I've never had anyone regret that decision.  I have a free video training that walks you through whether this industry is for you, so I encourage you to watch it.

Could Home Staging" be a Career for You?


Don’t miss this..!!

  • 7 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
  • What the Cost is to Starting this Business
  • Do You Have the Personality for This Industry?
  • How You Know If You Have the Design Talent?

Here's a few more AFTER photos from Orlando that I never get tired of seeing...

The best way to get home staging jobs is to do like any one else who wants a job in a particular field…get schooling!  No one is going to hire someone for a coveted home staging job without them having some sort of formal training or background in home staging or design.  In this article I provide 5 essential tips for connecting to the industry and getting home staging work from other home stagers.  Getting home staging jobs is not too hard if you follow my tips.

Staging Training Company Checklist

I've gotten four emails in the past few days from dismayed people who invested in a Staging Training Company and what they thought was a "Staging Certification" course but got very little, REAL training! 

In fact, there is an increasing number of "staging training" companies out there aggressively marketing their business, so it's VERY hard to research which staging training company is right for you.  While some staging training companies are good quality...most do not fully prepare you for all you would need to know in this industry nor do they support you!

That's why I created a 50-Point "Staging Training Company Checklist" so you can simply go down the list and make sure the training you choose to invest in can meet your "Certification" criteria:


Go ahead and click on the image above to download this helpful PDF.  Use the checklist as you shop for the staging training company you want to partner your business with.  Make no mistake, this is a BIG Partnership, so do the research and choose your staging training company wisely! 

When I saw what the HSR training program was offering, I could have kicked myself that I didn’t find them sooner, never mind all the money I wasted prior! The HSR Certification program is the complete package.

Paula Frankline
HSR Certified Stager

Here's an email I received from Pauline who just signed up for the HSR Home Staging Certification training that I thought was really interesting...

Audra, I wanted to share my story with you and tell you how I ended up taking the HSR training program and thanking my lucky stars that I did!  I’m a Realtor that, like you talk about, always liked to rearrange my room as a child. It just felt good. Then I grew up and did this on a much larger scale in my own homes…as in changing up almost every room every few months, changing artwork, pillows, flower arrangements, moving furniture... It’s safe to say that I’ve had a lot of practice in the way of staging, decorating and redesigning. I figured I just needed a piece of paper so that I could advertise it.

​So, I took two on-line programs, got my certificates, was even working on my first staging job…but, I still felt like I didn’t have all of the tools I needed business-wise. Sure, I was handling the staging part just fine. But, I wasn’t confident with what I was charging, how much to collect and when. I wasn’t confident with my legal agreement or any of the forms I was trying to make use of. Website? I didn’t even know where to begin with creating a website! Then one day I went on the RESA website to become a member. I was seeking out major marketing help and found HSR in the members area information.

When I saw what the HSR training program was offering, I could have kicked myself that I didn’t find them sooner, never mind all the money I wasted prior! The HSR Certification program is the complete package. The marketing information and staging forms, the great website design, and the support and forums made a world of difference for me! I feel like I’m running a real business now and not just floundering. The best part is, the continued support! HSR doesn’t go away! I can continue to get updated information and thats what gives me the confidence that my staging business will be successful!


Pauline Franklin
HSR Certified Stager

Now Pauline is staging like crazy and has a beautiful website from HSR that she is customizing to her heart's content...great job Pauline!  Here is a link to her new website:  www.simplyputstaging.com.

When you invest in a staging training company you are picking the "partner" to your business, so you have to choose wisely!

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I hope this Staging Training Company Checklist is helpful to your research and picking the right staging training company to partner with…you don’t want to end up like Pauline who invested in two “certifications” before finding the right match.

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