Archive for the ‘Home Staging Technique’ Category

How much do home stagers make?

Monday, June 8th, 2009

How much do Home Stagers make?

Have you ever wondered about entering a design field but thought it would take too long or cost too much money? Typical design schools take 2-4 years and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Many people who dreamed of doing something creative for a living have discovered a lucrative and rewarding career in the field home staging. Home Staging is a design marketing tool that has been utilized by home owners and real estate professionals for over 30 years. With multiple t.v. shows featuring home staging these days, it is now becoming the fastest growing real estate marketing tool.

Home Stagers around the country average anywhere from $50 - $150 per hour for their talents which include redesigning interiors to facilitate a faster sale, design consultations for staging, redesign or new design, and staging of vacant and model homes including furniture and accessory selection and design installation.

How can I become a Home Stager?

Home Staging is best learned from experience in the field. Because Home Staging is so specific in nature, there is little training available that teaches all the aspects necessary to excel in this exclusive industry. When comparing, you will want to find a certification program that covers the following areas that affect your success:

  • Design skills such as space planning, color theory and accessorizing
  • Home Staging tips, secrets and how to’s
  • Marketing and advertising your staging business
  • Insurance, contracts and forms
  • Pricing your business and how to make additional streams of income utilizing your new Home Staging design knowledge.

For more information on becoming a home stager, visit http://www.homestagingcourses.net

Staging Tips- Getting the sellers on board

Friday, April 17th, 2009

From Everyday to Showcase -

How to Motivate your Clients to make changes

It’s no surprise that many people are feeling a bit overwhelmed by today’s Real Estate market. It’s up; it’s down, with foreclosures all around.  This is a confusing time for home sellers because a couple years ago, a good percentage of homes were selling in as little as a few weeks, some with multiple offers. In today’s market we have more inventory and ever changing interest rates.  On one hand, buyers have more choices when seeking to purchase.  On the other hand, home sellers have more competition in attracting a buyer for their home.

In both circumstances, it comes down to the home owner delivering a product that buyers are seeking. Clean, well balanced, neutral and inviting spaces that showcase all the features the home has to offer.

With so many homes having the same floor plan as the next, it is imperative that homes be designed in a manner that differentiates them from their competition. Hiring a Professional Stager works because many homeowners are not able to look at their home objectively with “buyer’s eyes”. People live in their home the way that works best for them but this is typically not the “look” buyers get excited about or make higher offers for. Staged homes statistically receive 3-10% higher offers than homes that are not staged.

So, what do I say to motivate my clients to make the needed changes?

When I am preparing a customized staging plan for home owners, I typically refer to the trends of buyers when trying to motivate a home seller that is unsure about committing to my suggestions. I am not the reason they need to make changes - the consumer who is demanding a certain level of standards is.

So here are a couple of statements that help sellers understand why they might benefit from improving the showing condition of their home:

-         Buyers are seeking move-in condition homes and willing to pay more money for them. By addressing these things now, you will appeal to a broader audience of buyers.

-         Neutralizing so buyers can envision their belongings in the space will help them form emotional attachments to your home. Emotional connections procure offers.

-         Buyers find the space easier to relate to and more valuable and relevant to their wants and needs when rooms are staged in the manner in which they are meant to be used. For example a dining room should be staged as a dining room rather than an office or play room.

-         I am here to help you sell your home faster and for more money. All of the advice I am giving you is based on increasing your bottom line.

-         By following through on these suggestions, you improve your chances for a quicker sale. If by selling faster you save at least one price reduction, you will retain several more thousand dollars of equity in this home.

-         Staging every room in your home creates a consistent look and feel. The more attractive your home is, the higher the offers people will make. Why? Because in our society, people expect that highly attractive things usually cost more and we tend to “bargain” less when something is just what we have been looking for.

For more information on staging, please visit our website at www.preparedtosellstaging.com.

Former real estate agent Kim Kapellusch has over 10 years experience staging interiors for commercial advertising, vacant and lived-in homes, model homes and personal residences.

Call Kim today with your project details and get an over-the-phone estimate.

Serving Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas - 800.574.5576
Specializing in staging lived-in and vacant homes.
A Staged Home is a Sold Home!

The Academy of Home Staging Video

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Your Own Successful Home Staging Practice

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Phillip was a successful realtor for over 15 years. He enjoyed his work, and attributed his success to good customer service. Phillip made it a point to coach his clients on how to sell quickly and more likely get their asking price. One of those ways was to make aesthetic improvements that would offer more value to their home and impress potential buyers. His suggestions worked. Phillips clients often sold their homes twice as fast as others in their neighborhoods.

Realizing that his flair for creativity was an asset, Phillip decided to become certified as a home stager. He soon began making more money as he learned how to increase revenue with affiliate vendors. Since the main target market for staging is real estate agents, Phillip was able to build rapport easily with colleagues he had interfaced with over the years. He also built new relationships with companies that had a specific “Realtor Partner” marketing plan that encouraged strategic partnerships between agents and stagers. Phillip enjoyed diversifying his career, and the skills he acquired made him one of the most successful realtors in his market.

If you have a real estate background and would like to explore home staging as another stream of income, call Kim Kapellusch of The Academy of Home Staging at 800.574.5576.

Earn an Income as a Professional Home Stager

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Sally H. was a stay at home mom for 20 years. She put everything she had into her family. When the youngest of her 3 children left for college two years ago, she had a lot of extra time on her hands. Visiting with a neighbor one day, she met a home stager who had come to help the woman prepare her home for sale. Sally was awed by the difference made by a few small changes. She had always enjoyed working on projects and was inspired to look into home staging as a part time career. She trained and was certified and 30 days later, Sally had her first client. Referrals from friends have kept her busy ever since.

Home Staging is a fun and lucrative business for anyone with a creative flair. In this buyer’s market, opportunities abound. Sellers always want to get top dollar and staging has proven not only to increase sale price, but these homes also sell 2 to 3 times faster.

For more details on Professional Home Staging or Home Staging Training, call Kim Kapellusch at 800.574.5576.