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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Most home stagers have no idea how easy it is to market their new business and waste a TON of time on outdated marketing practices that don't get their phone to ring.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.

Perfect Business for New Moms

business for new moms

Having just come back from speaking at the Real Estate Staging Convention I have so many, amazing stories to tell about the people who take a leap of faith, follow their design passion (and talent), take our HSR Certification training and are now loving life!  I have tons of photos to share too but I wanted to get this story out which showed home staging to be the perfect business for a new mom.

One such story, I had to share right away was Asha Thune Clarks of Haven Space Designs an Austin, TX based home stager.  I love her story because it shows how she created the perfect business for new moms and so represents what I hear daily from people wondering if they can do this. 

Asha was a new mom when she started the HSR training four years ago and wanted a business that could work around her hours, allow her to contribute to the family finances and still make all the important events in her children’s lives.  That's when she found my training!

Here's Her Inspiring Story and Impressive Portfolio...

One of my very favorite childhood memories was walking into my bedroom and discovering that my mom had surprised me with a beautiful new bedspread. I can still feel the fabric and could pick that particular shade of pink out of a lineup any day. I could not have been more than four years old, but I vividly remember the beauty of my newly, lovingly designed room and how it made me feel: special, loved, and perfectly at peace (as much as a four-year-old recognizes peace).

Throughout the many years that followed, I looked at houses inside and out and loved how the built environment influenced the way I felt. My husband still finds my habit of asking him to slow down as we drive past warmly lit houses at night a bit creepy, but I just love how life happens inside a space that looks and feels beautiful.

When I was around ten, my mom started working for Any Baby Can, an amazing organization that helps families with children with special needs or chronic illnesses. I would tag along on many of her endeavors. One such trip brought us to a small house where we delivered Thanksgiving dinner. I will never forget driving up to the house and once inside, realizing that the dirt floors were not a temporary inconvenience during a remodel or construction; it was the way of life. My heart was changed so strongly that I found myself engaged in as much volunteer work during my high school years as I could find.

When I was accepted into the UT School of Social Work, it seemed fitting; however, I had this nagging voice that wouldn’t let me ignore the dream of creating interior spaces that look and feel beautiful. After all, I was the girl who introduced herself to her would-be college roommate not by saying what my hobbies and interests were but by telling her that our dorm room would be decorated in purple and to please be sure she coordinated her bedding accordingly. Miraculously, she is still one of my most treasured friends.

I completed my graduate degree in Social Work and years went by. I found myself enjoying my career at a local non-profit for several years, but the feeling of “what if I could do what I really love” never went away. When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, my husband encouraged me to take a leap of faith and make a change since we were about to embark on the biggest change of all. I wanted to be sure that whatever I did, I made it official; I started researching Professional Staging Certification programs. I found HSR and began the training.

I was a kid in a candy store going through the modules and learning more not just about how to stage and decorate but how to run my own business.

Before I even completed the training, I had my first client. I was in a total panic and made a couple frantic calls to Audra to get guidance on how to proceed as if I knew what I was doing. HSR gave me tools that helped me move confidently forward. I cannot believe that this journey started almost three years ago. My business has grown steadily, along with my family.

I specialize in Occupied Consultations and also work with design clients who want to improve their living spaces. I also now have a 10-month-old little boy. It is an amazing gift to live near my own mother who helps juggle – I mean watch- the little ones when I meet with clients. I get to plan my work around their needs and never have to miss out on special moments or events. As ridiculous as it sounds, I often find myself driving away from clients’ homes with a smile on my face.

I was recently asked the age-old “if you won the lottery, would you quit the next day” question. Without a doubt, my answer is “No!” I love what I do, I love the people I get to help, I love the realtors I work for who want the best for their clients, and I love that HSR helped turn my life-long daydream into my real-life job.

Woohoo, how cool is that?!

Thank you Asha for sharing your story and talent to encourage others!   This is an amazing industry because of people like you.
If you're reading this and thinking about becoming a home stager and creating your story...then watch my free video about how to become a home stager below...

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?

Some More Recent Stories from Home Stagers...

How to Expand Your Business into Holiday Design and Christmas Decorating

Do you want to grow your staging business during the slower holiday season?

Do you want to connect with a higher end clientele for design?

Do you love the holidays and holiday decorating?

Then this step-by-step, one-hour training video on, “Expanding Your Business to Holiday Design and Christmas Decorating” training video is for you!

What Will the Training Video Go Over?

  • “Homework” Ahead of Time in Preparation for the Service
  • Defining the Client’s Holiday Style – 8 Styles to Pick From
  • Repurposing Current Décor for a Brand New Look
  • What to Bring to Maximize Income/Impact and Your Retail Sales
  • Setting Expectations with Your Client and a Simple Process to Follow
  • Holiday Design Services and Pricing Model – Price Sheet Form Provided
  • Key Questions to Ask in the Phone Interview – Pre-Appointment Form Provided
  • How to Market Your New Service Easily and Affordably – Simple Ad and Direct Mail Ideas/Examples given

One Hour Video Training Includes these forms in Word for your business use:

  • Holiday Design FAQ Sheet – Tweak this for your website verbiage and SEO
  • Holiday Design Services and Pricing Example – Stair-stepped pricing that sets expectations
  • Holiday Design Pre-Appointment Interview Form (get a “read” on your client ahead of time)
  • Holiday Design Intro Email – Easy email template to send to client’s once you have appointment on the books. This sets the expectation and gets your client excited about the process.
  • Holiday Design Idea Websites and Sources to Inspire You
  • Two Ad Ideas for Mail-Outs, Facebook, local magazines, etc…

This is the first time Audra has ever sold a part of her training independently of her HSR Certified Program!

Only $75 for the entire Holiday Design Training!

BuyvNow

Invest in yourself and give yourself the gift of knowledge!

Home Staging Companies Are “Rocking It”!

Every time I get an email with staging success stories, I file them in my “to blog” folder…needless to say, I have too many success stories to tell for Spring 2015! Home staging companies around the globe are literally performing miracles in homes and getting huge returns for their sellers. Since I have too many stories to tell, I’m going to feature some of my favorite photos and recent quotes from HSR members and home staging companies...

Jennifer of Jennifer Neal Homes joined HSR after her real estate agent convinced her that that what she was meant to do in life. She joined HSR and crash coursed all night going 12 hours straight with no sleep. After her first staging job, she attended the broker’s open house and received four more jobs that day! When you see her photos below, you’ll understand why…

Kitchen BEFORE Home Staging

Kitchen BEFORE Home Staging

Kitchen AFTER Home Staging Companies

Kitchen AFTER Home Staging

Susan Stucki signed up for the HSR training just 3 months ago and she sent me this email last week...

Hi Audra! I'm sitting in my office now trying to plan for 3 houses I have to stage in the next 10 days!  I have already staged 6 homes and 3 still have my props.  So you can imagine how fast my inventory has had to grow...and haven't even had time to make a portfolio.  Your training was fantastic!  I couldn't possibly be doing this without all the information I learned from your course.

Susan Stucki

Cori Smith

Hi Audra, I just wanted to say "Thank You" again!  It has only been 3 months and I am learning so much.  Business is good...well great, considering the short amount of time that it has been.  I just completed a vacant staging and two redesigns...

I have to tell you how much I love the training that HSR provides!  I am learning so much and the marketing training and resources are so incredibly helpful.  I can honestly say the HSR training is THE BEST INVESTMENT I have made to start my business!

I loved getting this email from a member who took our course and is now mentoring for our Staging Mentors program...

Hi Audra, - BTW - I have been going gang-busters since I took your class. I actually partnered up with one of your former students, Tiffany Bryant! We've got excellent reviews all over the internet, and have become a Redfin Preferred Staging Company. We have a warehouse full of decor and stage full time! We staged over 50 homes last year! Thank you for the comprehensive training program and giving us the credentials to follow our passion!Linda Shepherd of Buyers Desire Staging

I have to really brag about Linda and Tiffany (above) because their home staging companies, home staging statistics out of Marlborough, MA were incredible!  On average, their homes sold for 12% more than the unstaged homes in their area which is ABOVE industry average.

Yep, home staging companies are rocking it so much that some are even turning away business...

Hi Audra, Business is great! In fact, I’ve made the choice to slow down a little right now. I'm determined I am not ready to hire assistants just yet so I am learning to pace myself a bit and become more selective in the projects I take on. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to be making these choices. Starting a home staging business has truly changed my life!

Lori Livers - A Houston, TX Home Staging Company

The "success" emails keep pouring in from lots of home staging companies...

Lisa DeFrancesco

Hi Audra, things are going great - Spring is finally here in New England and the real estate market is quite healthy. I've been very busy the last few weeks with photography appointments and staging consultations. The consultations have been going great - sellers are very receptive and I'm really enjoying working with them to get the offers pouring in! I have progressed quite a bit since joining HSR - with each new client I feel like I'm learning something new and expanding my skills and offerings. I can't begin to tell you how valuable HSR has been to my business - I am always referring back to the member library every time I need to come up with a new form or some current stats or if I need ideas for a marketing piece - so thank you, thank you, thank you!

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