Canadian Home Stager’s Interesting Advice

Whenever anyone enrolls for our staging and redesign course, I interview them to find out “where” they are coming from, “why” they are doing this and “what” is their ultimate goal.  I get a kick out of all the varied backgrounds people have before they “reinvent” themselves into the home staging and design world which in fact is probably where they should have always been!

After someone has taken our course about nine months in, I interview them again and share their insights with others so that we can all benefit.  Chelsea Waldner of Aspen Interior Designs had some interesting things to say, so I thought I’d share…

1.  What was your background before starting a home staging business and how did it serve you well in this new endeavor?

I am involved in construction and real-estate through my husbands company and my in-laws.  I was also a certified interior decorator before becoming a certified staging professional.  For me, this staging course was more useful and more comprehensive than the interior decorating course I took a few years prior.  It has given me the credibility that I needed to enter the staging industry as a professional while adding (very valuably) to the decorating background I already had.

2.  How long did it take you to go through the training/business set-up?  How long before you had your first consultation/appointment?

I went through the training in about 3 months and I had my first staging job within weeks.  That house sold in 6 days!  It had been on the market for 60 days already, unstaged.  Then I was hired to do a partial stage in just the kitchen and bathrooms and wow!  it made all the difference.  The house was on the market for another 2 days when it got a full list offer and it was officially sold 4 days later.

3.  Any words of wisdom for those just entering into the field?

Don’t be afraid to buy good condition, used furniture.  You will save a lot of money and build a bigger inventory in a shorter time than buying all new things.  Also, purchase as many neutral pieces as you can to increase your flexibility in staging a wide variety of home styles.

Accent with uniqueness and build your foundation on neutrality.

4.  What (if anything) would you have done differently looking back?

I would never have paid the money for the interior decorating course I took had I known the vast amount of knowledge I would gain through the HSR course.  In my opinion, the HSR course is more complex, more in-depth and covers more, useful, applicable design information than interior decorating courses alone.  This course teaches you about the psychology of design and that is very, very useful knowledge to have.

Are you glad you decided to go into the home staging field?  Why or why not?

I’m glad I took the course.  Staging is hard work.  For me, I find that moving a whole house in and out in the short amount of time it is on the market after it is staged is a real pain in the butt.  However, it does say something about the effectiveness of staging as a tool for real estate sales.  The longest any one of my stages has been on the market is 6 weeks.  That’s a lot of moving furniture!

Thanks Chelsea for sharing!

Click Here to see what your story can be…

7 Staging Tips for Difficult Spaces

7 Staging Tips for Difficult Spaces

One of the critical reasons to stage a vacant home is to give perspective to buyers.  Empty rooms are lifeless question marks in buyer’s eyes, so merchandising the space becomes essential!  Here are seven staging tips I think you will find extremely helpful in your next staging project…

Donna Dazzo of Designed to Appeal, a New York City based staging company was given one of the toughest vacant staging assignments I’ve ever seen, so I just had to share it.  This 3-bedroom, 4,000 square foot loft in Tribeca was on the market three months without an acceptable offer.

The loft sold at FULL asking price 22 days after Donna staged it!

Check it out…

This was the loft space as you walked in the home and as you can see the large columns are distracting and overwhelming.  The space appears dark, lifeless, cold and definitely not easily able to arrange furniture around!

Staging Tip #1 – Create Groupings

Strategically using area rugs, Donna separated the large space into groupings.  A central living and seating area between the columns draws the eye to the seating area and away from the columns.

Entryway/Living Room After 

Staging Tip #2 –Use Reflective Surfaces

The large and well placed mirror brings the eye further into the room immediately while extending the more narrow space. Using a light palette, reflective surfaces and mirrors, the space appears more open, light and inviting.

Here is a view from another angle where you can see how open the space was and how difficult it would be to fit all the represented living spaces in this one great room.

Not only did she fit a living grouping but a dining area off the kitchen as well.

Staging Tip #3 –Use Furniture to Separate the Space

What do you do with a small, seemingly un-useful space off the living area when you’ve already established plenty of seating arrangements?

Separating the space with a bookcase, it becomes an office with a view!

Staging Tip #4 –Proper Scale Needs to Always be Considered

Filled with large, empty space this loft needs properly scaled furnishings to first “fit” between the beams in the living/entry area and now larger pieces to match this large space below.

The cabinets are artfully arranged to add color and symmetry.

Staging Tip #5 –Know Your Buyer Demographic

Staging for Families

Since the buyer demographic for this space was a family, Donna incorporated that lifestyle in her merchandising by turning this cold Den space into a bright, kids play area.

Notice how the brick wall in the vacant space appears to be a detraction while once it’s staged becomes an asset.

“Artful staging can turn even negative architectural elements into positive assets!”

Staging Tip #6 –Use Great Art to Elevate the Space

At this point you’ve probably noticed the amazing artwork that serves to elevate the space and give personality right?  Well Donna cleverly partnered with an art gallery to complete her staging vision.

This bedroom is tricky because all you notice is the long, unsightly heater under the windows.

Second Bedroom Before

Using a highly textured area rug, soft textiles and amazing artwork the space becomes a girls dream bedroom!

Second Bedroom After – Girl

Ready to Become a Successful Home Stager and Redesigner?

Staging Training Comparison

20+ Reasons Why HSR is Your Best Choice for Staging Training…

A lot of training companies will call themselves the “world’s best” or “accredited” but you have to dig deeper to find out the facts and make sure you invest in the best partnership for your business!  I know it’s confusing, so I recently put together this video in hopes to explain the HSR point of view and my philosophy on what makes us the best choice.

Another great reason to choose HSR as your trainer of choice!  The Home Staging Resource was the first truly, Accredited Home Staging Training Provider by an independent, third-party who has audited our training (the Real Estate Staging Association).

Click Here for 20 other reasons to choose HSR…

HSR Success Story – DMBM

Home Stager Success Story – Stager Turns Online, Trade Furnishing Company

I love this story because it represents so many stories I hear from HSR Members who get calls right away and have immediate success…

Can you imagine just starting the HSR Certification training and getting a call from a builder to stage a model home?  Here’s a quick video and encouraging story of how they handled it…

Our Story…

What makes the alliance with HSR and DesignMeBuyMe.com even more exciting to me is that my wife and I both got our start with HSR. The HSR program and lessons truly gave us a solid foundation and allowed us to apply what we have learned and in turn create a multi-million dollar business! 

Back in 2006 when we joined HSR and completed their program, our very first job was to stage two 5000+ sqf homes top to bottom for the parade of homes. Without thinking, we were so excited and we accepted the challenge just to find out shortly after that we only had 48 hours to get it all done.

We were in way over our heads, but we had to get creative to get it all done. So we decided to take all the furniture out of our personal home to get started on house number1  I do not recommend this!! Unfortunately all of our furniture only furnished the 1^st floor of the parade home, so we had to reach out and two of our best friends loaned us all of their furniture for a week just so we can get one house completed……good friends!

By the time we started house 2, we were out of furniture and good friends it seemed J so we contacted local furniture stores and asked if we could use some of their furniture. After getting multiple “No thank you” answers we finally found a store to lend us living room, bedroom and game room furniture. As relieved as we were, the furniture we used was all very high-end which made it very stressful for us to move and place.

All that being said, we won 1^st place in the Parade and both houses sold within a week. In addition, all of our furniture and some of our friends furniture sold as well.

The money we got paid for staging was certainly great but to also have additional income from furniture sales made the entire process even better.

Since all of the furniture that we sold was originally purchased at retail prices, our overall profit margins were relatively small.

Prior to starting DMBM my wife and I went to Furniture markets in an attempt to open up our own vendor accounts. We quickly realized that as an independent homestager/designer we were treated a little differently  – the first question we were always asked was “Do you have a store?” Our answer was no, which meant that we automatically got placed in the least favorable pricing category – Designer Pricing

Designer Pricing basically means – higher product cost, higher shipping costs and minimum order requirements. In addition, most vendors have opening orders that have to be met which can range from $1000 to $20,000.

Markus EngelkeDesignMeBuyMe.com

Now HSR Members can access the DesignMeBuyMe.com website and offer “To the Trade” pricing to their clients because of our special relationship with HSR!

5 Critical Reasons to Attend the RESA Convention this Year

Every year I go to the RESA Convention and every year I get ten times more done in my business the months following that inspirational event because it is so motivating!  I really can’t say enough about this event, so I thought I’d bullet point some key reasons to attend (and use to convince your spouse the importance of you going!)

1. Barbara Corcoran – Need I say more?  It’s incredible to me that RESA was able to get her to speak and I can’t wait to see what kind of wisdom this amazing woman has to share!
2. Training Times Ten – Yep, you will learn so much at this event on so many different topics!  The experts are hand picked and are the best of the best!
3. It Will Fire-Up Your Business – I promise you will walk away feeling invincible and capable of tackling the toughest projects, clients and marketing activities!
4. You Will Make LOTS of Friends – Staging and design can be a lonely business, so coming to this event allows you to connect with peers, network and make friends that will also hold you accountable and encourage you all year round.
5. Early Bird Pricing Currently, Las Vegas is a Cool Place to Visit and the Great Food – Okay, I listed three more fantastic reasons that not everyone is aware of…in fact, I think I gain five pounds from the amazing food that is served at the RESA Convention every year.

This event will sell out soon, so click here to sign-up today!

For past and present HSR Grads, I have a special video invite just for you…