When I worked in corporations, it was really taboo to talk about salary. I think those “rules” are made by the people who don’t want you to discover you’re making less salary than a coworker doing the same job.
Since home stagers are self-employed, they don’t really earn a home stager salary, but they can make lots of money.
Some home stagers have criticized me for talking about money in public. Since I’m in the business of helping home stagers make money as home stagers, how can I not?
Unless you have a trust fund or spouse paying the bills, you need an income to live on.
There’s nothing shameful about earning a living doing what you love. As long as you operate with integrity. By not talking about how much money a home stager can make, we shroud the whole thing in mystery. There’s no reason for that!
Most home stagers don’t like to share the nitty-gritty details of how long things take. Or how much money they make in home staging. In this series, I explain two common types of projects and what I earn from each one.
If you’re thinking, “Oh it’s different for her, she’s the Staging Diva,” let me assure you that I’m quoting the rates I charged within my second year as a home stager. That’s when my home stager salary really took off because I’d figured out the right formula. I’ve since taught it to thousands of home stagers in 24 countries.
I had to figure this all out on my own the hard way. My students don’t, because I tell them everything I’ve learned along the way!
One of the reasons it’s so easy to fit being a home stager around another full- or part-time job, or raising kids, is that each home staging project is fairly short term.
Especially when you compare it to Interior Design. Those projects can take 6 months or more because of renovations, lead times to order new furniture, and other details you have no control over.
Many Staging Projects Involve a Single Meeting
A home staging project could be limited to a 2 to 5-hour consultation. My home staging consultations are also working sessions. I often transform a home in that first meeting, using whatever they have.
In fact that’s where the bulk of my home staging income has always come from. It’s a great way to make a living. You get in, work your magic and give your recommendations, and leave with your payment.
There’s no need to write a report or wait to get paid (if you follow the business formula I teach in the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program).
The photo at the top of this article is from one of my staging projects where all I did was show up for the home staging consultation. There was no time to paint or bring in new furniture. MLS photos were being taken the next day.
Transforming a Home in Record Time
We worked with what my client already had (plus a few orchids and plants). Everything they didn’t need for showings was tossed into big plastic bins. This made it easy to take it away for storage. Rearranging the rest was so much simpler with the extras out of the way!
We worked together for 3 hours and I left with $900, not bad for a Wednesday afternoon! Now I live in a major urban center. If you live in a smaller city, you’ll probably charge less for a consultation, but remember you also won’t have as high a cost of living as someone in a larger area.
In Course 2, The Business of Home Staging: What you need to start and grow your business, I share a whole pricing strategy that you can adapt no matter where you live. You’ll also learn what other home stagers charge in different cities and towns.
Bonus Marketing Tip
By the way, this client found me on Facebook because one of the real estate agents she is “friends” with keeps sharing my Facebook posts on his wall!
She went to my home staging website, called me up and the rest is history.
Other staging projects take several days. In Part 2 of this series, I’ll share how much money a home stager can make with those.
Home stagers who are reading this, I’d love for you to share whether you make more of your home staging income from single consultations or from more involved staging projects.
And if you want to share your rates, I know others will find this very helpful. Wouldn’t you like to learn more about what other home stagers charge too?
Want to Make a Higher Home Stager Salary?
I’ve created a handy Tip Sheet that will help you understand the different phases of a home staging project and how much money you can make as a home stager.
You’ll be surprised at how few projects are needed to make a good home stager salary.
I found something that is truly one of my natural gifts. Staging is one way to enrich someones life <3 giving back
Thanks for sharing that Elizabeth. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I bet you’d enjoy this article I wrote called, Addicted to Decorating or Born to Be a Home Stager.
Interested in migrating my design skills to interior staging/house flipping. I’m totally a consignment / thrift shopper who designed my own interior on a budget, and staged my moms.
Need to learn startup costs and what I can expect to make. Didn’t see it here.
Good for you Chris! There are tons of articles on this blog regarding start up costs and earnings. In fact if you google almost any topic related to home staging with the phrase Staging Diva, you’ll find that I’ve written about it. I also encourage you to subscribe, if you haven’t already. That way you’ll get notifications of new posts plus invitations to special events I host via telephone conference call.
Hi there! Thank you for the information. Do you believe that someone needs to have a interior design background/degree to be successful in this business?
Awesome question Tina! You do not need an interior design background or degree to be a successful home stager. I’m proof of that as are thousands of my students. For more on this topic, please read this article:
Should I go to Interior Design School or Become a Home Stager?
You will also love this one:
Addicted to Decorating or Born to Be a Home Stager
If you’re wondering if you have the eye of a home stager, even though you have no formal design training, I encourage you to get this Free Quiz I set up. You’ll get 10 before photos from my actual clients and a chance to compare your recommended staging changes to what I told them. Here’s the link:
Do You Have the Eye of a Home Stager? Free Quiz
Thanks. Debra as I read your testimony I just wanted to cry not of sadness, but of hope. You see I was divorced in 2015 to an abusive man for over 40 something years and I am still having problems kicking him to the curve. Because of financial dependents on him. He tells me that I can’t even to pay my bills and balance my checkbook.And because of my learning disabilities, I believe him.. I know I not dumb its about his control.I am seeing a counselor to overcome this nightmare.So when you spoke of women that have had to leave an abusive marriage in empowered me and I thank you for that. I am very good at decorating I all the time in fact Its on my mind 24/7, I had a lady come over to sale me a water softener. When she came in her words shut up this is so pretty girl you need to do this for a living. Which I always wanted to but just didnt want to go to college because of my learning disablity. but now I feel like I can live my dream. I felt inspired to share this with you .I will have but I am going save my money. But I am going to do this.I can send you photos ofmy home.You will love it. i Always ways wanted to empower women to get out of an abusive marriage.This will give me the tools to do just that.Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your story Pamela and I’m sorry that you (and SO many of my students) are going through this! Stand in your power and use your gifts, that’s the way out!
Hello Staging Diva! I’m Shari I’m a Realtor and I absolutely love decorating anything from a box to a beautiful Home I’m very interested in your course would love to have more info such as are they only offered online ? Thank you
Hi Shar, I’ve written so many articles for realtors like you who perhaps have a bigger passion for the actual decorating and staging of a house. I think you’ll especially enjoy this one, When You’re a Home Stager with a Real Estate License.
Now as for my courses, you study from home at your own convenience. They aren’t really online courses in that you don’t have to be connected to the Internet to do them. You purchase the courses online and then either download them or have them mailed to your door. I encourage you to read the full description of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program and listen to samples of each course.