Home staging works whether you’re decorating a house to sell for a client, or you’re working on your own home. One of the side benefits of being a home stager is we know how to make money in our own real estate. In fact that’s how I got into professional home staging in 2002.

At that point I had bought 6 ugly homes and staged them and flipped them at a profit. That convinced me that I had the eye of a home stager, the necessary talent to decorate a home to sell on the real estate market.

Staging Diva Graduate, Kasia McDaniel of Blue Diamond Staging & Design, LLC (NC) was an IT project manager in her former career (and before that she was a member of the US Air Force!).

She started her home staging business while working her full-time job and also raising her kids, thanks in part to a holiday gift of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program from her husband.  Now she’s a full-time home stager, which gives her much more flexibility to spend time with her family while also building her business.

Home staging works on your own home too

Recently, Kasia shared this story with me about the transformation and sale of her own home, which totally shocked her neighbors. Here it is in her own words:

“I staged my own home and it sold in 4 days above asking price at what is normally the end of the selling season.

All of the neighbor’s jaws dropped when they were told it went above list price. That was unheard of in their mind and they could not believe someone would pay more.

I gave some of the neighbors a personal tour of the house after I staged it and with every room, they just gasped,’Wow. This is nice! The rooms are so big. It looks so neat and yet I can see myself living here.’

The new owners loved the house so much (and the décor) that they even bought some of the curtains! The wife admitted she did not know the first thing about curtains and wanted something up so they could just move in.

Just like any house that goes on the market, I knew we had to make it shine and make some improvements. However this time, I had to take my own advice and do all the things I would recommend as a home stager.

Working with our realtor, we knew the master bathroom had to be updated. However, we didn’t want to shell out thousands of dollars for something that we would not see a return on investment. Besides, the new homeowners might want to rip it all out later anyway. We decided to just update the bathroom countertops, lights, mirrors and cabinet door handles and the results were fantastic!

Our realtor, Lisa Moffett said, ‘Kasia did a fabulous with the staging of her home. Her amazing talent for design and organization is excellent! Kasia is a staging ‘pro’ and is easy to work with. She is experienced, knowledgeable and creative…all of this equals a win/win for all. I highly recommend her!’

Staging works in all kinds of markets. We had 14 different groups walk through the open house and 2 of them asked to be notified if an offer was put in. If a house looks ready to move in, buyers will come in droves.

I am so glad I changed my career to be a home stager because I have fun doing it and I enjoy helping people. Thanks again for all your help and motivation Debra!”

Kasia and I have done a few coaching calls together so it’s given me a ringside seat at her business progress. Of our calls, she writes, “I had a great time talking to you. I always learn something new and always look forward to our conversations. You are a great sounding board, and sometimes that’s exactly what I need.”

It’s been such a joy watching Kasia’s home staging business grow since she first started the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program.

One of the changes Kasia made early on was redoing her headshot, not that it was bad before. She just took it up a notch. With her permission, I wrote about it in 10 Signs Your Home Stager Headshot Needs a Makeover.

Notice in this home staging success story from Kasia how she used her own home staging project to also get a testimonial from her real estate agent?

And how she used her own home to showcase her home staging talents and prove that home staging works to all her neighbors (aka potential future clients)? Well done, Kasia, perfect marketing plan ideas!

If you’ve never staging a client’s home, don’t be afraid to use your own home to start your home staging portfolio. That’s how we all start, even me! My first home staging business website, was based entirely on before and after shots from my own home. I used those to get my first paying projects and then gradually updated my site with shots from my clients’ homes.

Do you have a story you’d like to share that proves home staging works? Or a story that you know will help inspire your fellow home stagers and those just thinking of getting into home staging? We’d love to hear it. Please submit your information at this link and I’ll turn it into an article!

Please join me in celebrating Kasia’s success in her home staging business and also the speedy and profitable sale of her own home! Home staging works, spread the word!