Diary of a Home Stager

Home Staging PMS

2008-11-28T17:35:00.001-08:00

Staging may be the toughest job that I'll ever love!

But when I prepare for a vacant stage, I turn into a staging zombie. Yesterday I completed my fourth vacant stage in four weeks. By now, my children are sick of hearing about what window treatments will go where, the color schemes for the different homes, how lovely the lamp will look on the sofa table... on and on. I get the infamous eye-roll and a less than enthusiastic "WHATEVER."

When I have a vacant stage approaching, I completely go through Staging PMS. Here are the symptoms:

Irritability: "I cannot find my blue vase in my over-grown inventory!"
Irrational thoughts: "Sure, I can fit all of this into my van!"
Mood swings: "Everything is ready. No it's not... I have got to go shopping right now!"
Compulsiveness: All waking thoughts (and sometimes sleeping ones) are about the project.
Chocolate Cravings: OK, this one is NOT necessarily staging related.

In the end, everything comes together, the staged homes look beautiful, my husband comes out from hiding, and all is well with the world! ...until my phone rings!

Later, k.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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Home Staging: Living the Glamorous Life!

2008-11-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

So many newly hatched stagers, fresh out of their shells, come into this industry wet with swollen eyes; their vision is blurred by marathons of "Sell This House," "Designed to Sell," and "The Stagers." The excitement on entering this new world pricks their senses as imaginations kick into overdrive.

They daydream of sweeping into a house, waving a magic, and (poof!) the house is spontaneously transformed into a glorious image sure to have buyers beating down the door! The phone rings non-stop while emails mount in their boxes. Newspaper articles, paparazzi flashes, and the coveted HGTV spot are within reach...

Fresh and shiny from their training course, they head out to their first Realtor's office with their ink-jet brochures and presentation binder in hand just knowing they will score big! --- They don't. (Insert your own tire screech here.) The glamorous lifestyle that seemed within reach is now miles away.

The truth is... starting a home staging business is a lot harder than most anticipate which explains why many drop the dream before it has a chance to mature. With wide eyes most jump on the Home Staging Tilt-a-Whirl and are thrown off before they get a chance to fasten their seatbelts. Blood, sweat, and tears combined with time, money, and effort will test the sanity of all staging entreprenuers.

What separates success stories from failures? DESIRE. DRIVE. DETERMINATION. Those who are steadfast in the home staging business are committed to succeed through the good times and the bad. (Trust me, there will be bad times.) Stagers who weather the storms come out ahead by learning from their mistakes. (Trust me, there will be mistakes.)

Home staging in the real world is NOT a glamorous life style! By the end of the day, real stagers are exhausted from driving across town to appointments; packing, unpacking, and repacking inventory; moving furniture, art work, and accessories up and down the stairs. Our feet hurt, our backs hurt, our necks hurt, and our hurts hurt.

This post is not a rant. It is not a complaint. It is not whining. It is an accurate description of an overly glamorized profession. Just as real doctors experiences are exaggerated by Grey's Anatomy, television has educated the public with a cloudy perception of the staging industry.

Those who dive into the staging pool do so because they like it. The ones who dare to swim into the deep end do so because they love it! Yes, we are tired. Yes, sometimes we're broke. Yes, we can get discouraged. But we love the job! It is demanding. It is consuming. It is unpredictable. But we love the job!

Being a stager is not just what we do... it is who we are!

Later, k.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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Home Staging OCD

2008-11-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

It has been my experience that professional home stagers suffer from a common ailment: Home Staging Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Largely ignored by the medical community, this disorder effects hundreds of stagers across the United States.

Staging OCD's symptoms include:
-An uncontrollable desire to rearrange furniture, straighten art work, and fluff pillows
-Continuous thoughts about color coordination and centerpiece arrangements
-Sleeplessness before a vacant staging project

Although there is no cure to Home Staging OCD, the symptoms are treatable through extensive retail therapy. Either way, sufferers come out ahead!

Later, k.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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Well, That Was Interesting...

2008-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

Working as a home stager for many years, you would be suprised at some of the day-to-day encounters that I face...

Take pet's for example: Home owners LOVE their pets! Buyers, on the other hand, are usually not so fond of the little critters, especially when they leave their calling card on the carpet! *Mental note: do not remove shoes when animals are not house broken. Ok, I'm not ready to leave the pet issue alone just yet... Why is it that large dogs (let me put this delicately) think I have treats for them in my slacks?! I may have to charge extra for the persistant ones.

Let's not forget the other little critters: What is adorable art to one person is just plain graffiti to buyers. Parents who allow their children to "express their creative side" should be prepared to paint the walls before selling. Oil based art supplies may require washing and priming prior to painting. But rest assure... Junior's masterpiece will be well worth the extra work. Maybe in the next house these parents can try offering paper.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job! Every house has its own story; every client offers varying views; every day is a different experience. Good, bad, and (sometimes just plain) ugly, being a home stager is not just what I do, but it is who I am.

Later, k.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!