Get busy, it's home staging season!

Home staging, because it’s tied to real estate, is a seasonal business. If you’ve been doing your marketing the way I advise in “Staging Diva Sales & Marketing Secrets to Boost your Home Staging Business“, you should get lots of calls from prospective clients now heading into the fall real estate market.

In most major centers, people want to get their homes on the market right after Labor Day. So, you should be getting calls now (and over the last 10 days or so) and stay busy through the end of September.

I’m already booked up with as many projects as I can handle for the next 4 weeks and I’ve turned away several because I didn’t have anyone to refer them to [hint: Graduates in Toronto, if you haven’t let me know you’re in business and got your portfolio together, you’re missing valuable referral projects!].

October brings new flood of calls from desperate homeowners

There’s always another wave of new project activity around the end of October as the people who haven’t sold yet (because they didn’t have their homes staged in the first place) start to get nervous. They realize that by the end of November their chance to sell before spring will be all but gone.

While this group may not have been open to spending money on the home they’re selling at the beginning of the season, by end of October they realize they have no choice. Especially since their agent would be asking at that point to cut their price dramatically.

Staging is far cheaper than price reductions which even on a very modest listing start at about $5,000. I had one client last spring whose agent wanted him to drop his price $50,000 from the $949,900 list price. When you’re up at that price and not selling you need a bigger drop to get some action. For the agent, that would have been only about $750 out of her pocket. For the client, however, that’s a loss of $47,000! John called me instead and spent about $1000 and got 98% of his original asking price. Honestly, why wouldn’t everyone stage their house with those sorts of numbers?!

If you’re a home stager, “spring” starts end of January/early February

The biggest season for home staging is of course spring, which starts in Februrary (it may look like the middle of winter where you are, but the spring real estate season will already be underway). Your marketing efforts should be in full swing by late January to keep you busy right up through end of April.

Then you’ll see that second spring surge in demand for home staging at the end of June from the desperate homeowners that didn’t sell in the spring market. Again, their agents are pushing for price cuts and they’re realizing if they don’t sell fast they can’t move before the kids start school in the fall.

All of this presumes you live in a major urban center in North America. If you live in a market that appeals to people buying vacation homes, the pattern will be different of course with the peak selling time being in the summer or winter ski season (depending on the destination).

And if you lived in Australia as some of my Staging Diva Students students do, the seasons would also be reversed.

So, my challenge to all home stagers reading this is… get out there and let homeowners and agents know you’re there. This is the second biggest season of the whole year and while you might be clinging to summer pleasures or worrying about your kids starting school, you’re also an entrepreneur, in charge of building your business! Here’s an easy way you can start to build an immediate profile and it’s FREE!

Discover the ONLY Home Staging Business Training Program taught by a seasoned entrepreneur who has successfully grown her own home staging business (not as a side-line to selling real estate) — The Staging Diva Training Program. With an MBA and hundreds of home staging clients, internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, The Staging Diva, is uniquely qualified to train others how to start and grow a profitable home staging business.

Read full Staging Diva Home Staging Training course descriptions and schedule

“The Staging Diva Business Training Program is worth every penny!

While there are other home staging courses out there, I’m so happy I follow the business model Debra teaches in her program. It is specific, concise, and thoroughly explained.

In addition to her courses, Debra offers SO many supplemental materials that are incredibly helpful too. The community of Staging Diva Graduates is another bonus, as we all support each other and share each other’s wins.”
— Cristin Lyons (NC)*Raleigh Staging & Design

“The Staging Diva Program is very well organized and explains in the most straightforward terms how to set up your business, maintain and grow it.

By the time I was on Course 3, I had already completed three home staging jobs which more than paid for all the training!

Debra’s step-by-step process allowed me to start a 2nd career doing something I probably should have been doing all along!”
— Rob Reinhart (CA)*Make It-Home

“Once I decided home staging was for me, I was terrified of starting my own business. Staging Diva Training gave me the confidence to do what I love, and contribute to our income after being out of the work force for 15 years.

Debra gave me the information I needed to get over my fear of failure, charge what I’m worth, and get out there and start my home staging business!”
— Kelli Hughes (TX)*ReAbode Home Staging and Redesign

“I felt like I hit the jackpot when I found the Staging Diva Program. I bought it without hesitation and began my training immediately.

I’m excited and inspired. The courses exceeded my expectations and gave me the knowledge to confidently start my own staging business.

So grateful for what I learned from Debra. She shares her gifts and talents so generously!”
— Mary-Maye Lorriman (UK)*Room by Room Interiors Ltd

“The Staging Diva Program was such an influential part of my home staging business plan. The business tools, processes and procedures Debra Gould outlines in the program set you up for success.

I have taken other courses but none compare to the comprehensive program with Staging Diva.

I truly appreciate all Debra’s help and guidance through the courses and group coaching calls. She is such a great inspiration!”
— Lori Carbone (NJ)*Spaces That Speak Home Staging

“I love Debra Gould’s straight forward approach and candor. As a home stager, she knows first-hand what it’s like in the field. Debra is running her own staging business as a real business and knows what it takes.

Debra is truly an uplifting woman and I continue to aspire to follow her lead. Her amazing passion for home staging is felt all the way over here on the Jersey Shore.”
— Wynette Williams (NJ)*Red Robyn Interiors

“The Staging Diva Program taught me many secrets about home staging consultations— especially how to charge, and have no inventory.

I took another home staging course before Debra’s and the Staging Diva Program really helped build my business. Debra forced me out of my comfort zone, she is such an inspiration! Now I know I can make a difference in many people’s lives.”
— Susan Bierig (NJ)*Re-deZine The Shore Way LLC

“I loved Debra’s no-nonsense style of running a home staging business, it’s very easy and straightforward. She keeps it simple, and it all “clicked” for me.

I now have the confidence to get out there and do what I am passionate about. I knew I had the talent, and now I have the business knowledge to round out my staging business. Thank you Debra!”
— Judy Chizmar (PA)*Judy Chizmar Home Transformations

“The Staging Diva Program is fantastic! I wish I had found it before completing a different home staging course. The program provided me with valuable business information that the other course lacked.

I am very impressed with Debra Gould. It is quite evident that she is honest and ethical in all her dealings with her students and clients, and that’s #1 in my books.

She truly has become my mentor!”
— Monique Milne (MB)*Milne Well Dressed Homes (MB)

“I’m so glad I came across the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program. It’s a perfect fit for me with Debra sharing her business model and what has worked for her. She takes the guess work out of how to run a successful home staging business.

Debra is supportive, down to earth and has a wealth of experience under her belt. I can now express my creative passion with more confidence following her guidance.”
— Shelley Giffin (QLD AU)*Rooms for Miracles

“The Staging Diva Program is very comprehensive, flows well, is explained simply, and the content is engaging. I loved the combination of information from Debra mixed in with student questions.

I do not need a business background to be successful as a home stager after taking the Staging Diva courses. They gave me the confidence I needed, to know that I can be successful.”
— Haana Nyamekye (MD)*Zuri Sophia Interiors

“I love that I’m pursuing a career that pays me to be creative, rather than spending my time working for someone else.

Plus, I have the freedom to be available to my family when they need me.

The Staging Diva Program filled in all the questions that I still had after completing another ‘hands on’ program. Thank you Debra, I now have the confidence to build my staging business.”
— Tracie Lacroix (BC)*Sold by Design

“This is the first time in my 57 years of life that I am pursuing something solely for myself — despite my often paralyzing fear!

I’m optimistic and excited to see what the new year has in store for me— due in large part to having found the Staging Diva Program and feeling prepared to take this new journey as a home stager. Debra, thank you sincerely!”
— Lisa Tyus-Lee (OH)*Lights Camera Stage LLC

“Debra’s knowledge and expertise on how to start a home staging business have inspired me.

As a seasoned Real Estate Agent who already staged clients homes, I believe this is a great business to be in.

I am moving my dream of staging homes into a separate business because Debra taught me how in the Staging Diva Program. Thank you Debra!”
— Leslie Manson (BC)*Staging Homes by Leslie

“I appreciate Debra’s candid approach. It’s the reason I chose the Staging Diva Program over other home staging courses.

My first project sold the first day on the market for more than the asking price. This confirmed I’m in the right business.

Thank you, Debra!”
— Casey McDougall (TX)*Custom Home Staging

“I loved the Staging Diva Program! I was skeptical about the format at first, but it was great. The notes were concise and easy to follow. Students asked questions I was wondering about myself, and Debra is clear and direct.

I’m confident in my decorating abilities, but wasn’t sure how to run a professional and profitable staging business. Debra walks you through the entire process.”
— Deborah Brischler (CA)*Home Staging Solutions

“The Staging Diva Program will help me avoid possible mistakes and has provided great clarity on many grey areas— which is great!

I love staging homes and since doing the program, I love it even more as I am confident that I can provide a really worthwhile and valuable service! These home staging courses are very practical. I wish I had completed them sooner!”
— Clodagh Doyle (Ireland)*Placelift Property Renovation Specialists

“I have never been so driven, passionate and totally motivated as I have been since completing the Staging Diva Program. I have not lost any steam nor any excitement.

The fact that the program is start-up business and marketing related to home staging makes it so perfect.”
— Dane Caldwell (ON)*2 Hounds Design

“I knew what I wanted to do as a home stager, but I didn’t know how to go about it. Staging Diva gave me the processes and I followed them.”
— Meg Ritchie (AU)*Gold Coast Homestaging

“I already have a knack for the decorating part of home staging, but I lacked the business side of things.

The Staging Diva Program was great to have at my fingertips so I could listen at my own speed and in my own time.

I was concerned about handling all the paperwork I thought had to be involved in the contracts and such, but Staging Diva has made it SO much easier!!”
— Amy Brown (MO)*Simply Staging by Amy

You Might Also Enjoy

Footer

Become a Home Stager