Want To Stage Homes To Sell: Stage Your Image First

Summary

Home staging trainer Debra Gould, The Staging Diva® shares ways to project the right image when you’re a professional home stager but new to the staging industry.

To Stage Homes To Sell: Stage Your Image First

When you’re in the business of turning drab and cluttered interiors into beautifully polished spaces, it’s important you look the part of someone that can successfully do that. In other words, “when you’re staging homes to sell, you should first stage yourself to sell,” says home staging trainer Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®.

One of the easiest ways to catapult your business to success is to act as though you are already successful.

Everyone starts somewhere, but nobody has to know you’re brand new at staging homes professionally. In fact, it’s a bad idea to tell a homeowner they’re your first home staging project. Don’t lie about it if you’re asked, but your demeanor, wardrobe, marketing materials and portfolio shouldn’t leave any room for the homeowner to guess you haven’t been doing this for years.

In everything you do that’s business-related ask yourself if it’s something a successful home stager would be doing.

Pick a couple of the home stagers you look up to and keep an image of them in your mind. When you’re getting ready for a home staging consultation and wondering what to wear, visualize your model home stager and ask yourself what she or he might wear to a client meeting. The way you look can not only change the way you feel about yourself, but it can change the way people perceive you because looking put-together makes you feel more confident in what you’re doing.

It’s important to carry yourself well – don’t act like your life depends on your next home staging project.

Even if you are desperate don’t let that come across to your client. Do you think someone who has been staging homes for years giggles with excitement when they get awarded a job? Probably not in front of the client!

What about your business image?

What would happen if a client called you right now? If you answer, would they hear screaming kids in the background? Worse, does one of your children answer? If you have children at home, either let your calls to go voicemail or hire a sitter!

How about your marketing materials?

Your marketing materials represent your business when you’re not in front of your prospective clients. Look at your materials objectively. Do they look like something that would be used by a successful home stager?

Your website is also a very important piece of your marketing kit.

A potential client is going to want to see your website where they can look at some before and after photos of projects you’ve done and learn more about you. Your first home staging project should cover the costs, and if you’re not online you’re not going to be found very easily. Can you imagine a successful home stager not having a professional website?

Your portfolio should be professional, polished, and impressive. Even if you’re new to this, you should have lots of photos from staging your own and your family and friends’ homes. Detailed assistance on putting together a professional home staging portfolio can be found in the Staging Diva® Ultimate Portfolio Guide: Winning Clients With The Perfect Home Staging Portfolio.

About the Author, Debra Gould

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and creator of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 1000+ Graduates worldwide. Debra is the author of three home staging guides and offers a Directory of Home Stagers to help homeowners and real estate agents locate home stagers who will decorate homes to sell quickly and for top dollar.