I hope you’re enjoying these home staging business posts about the different time-sucking client types you might encounter at your home staging consultations.

I really believe that when you charge a flat rate, all you’re doing is setting yourself up to lose your shirt.

Today’s installment is what will end up to be the client that costs you the most money; “The Pack-Rat Client“.

You’ve quoted your flat rate to a new home staging client and the prospect didn’t even bat an eye lash.

Great! You’re feeling very positive about this one, because of the way the house was described, you are going to have quite a few pieces to work with.

They mentioned they had a lot of furniture. Before even getting there, you imagine how you might rearrange pieces among different rooms to really change the space, perhaps arranging off site storage for any excess.

Then you arrive at your appointment and are welcomed into the home, only to discover that there isn’t one square inch of space that isn’t covered in clutter.

Huge stacks of papers dominate the kitchen table, cupboards won’t close they’re so jam packed with junk, piles of books, games and toys are taking over the living room – you feel like you just stepped into an Oprah episode about excessive hoarders.

You know now, before even getting into your home staging consultation, that it could take a full day just to move out the clutter before you can even think about staging.

Too bad you’ve already quoted your flat rate and will be leaving so much money on the table you can’t even stand to think about it.

The next, and second to last installment in this series will talk about a client type that can indirectly cost you a fortune; “The Wishy-Washy Client”.

If you’re getting that uncomfortable feeling that you’ve seen these time sucking client types all too often, check out the pricing strategies in Course 2 of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program, “The Business of Home Staging: What you need to start and how to grow,” it teaches you how to charge fairly for your services which is one of the most important factors involved with starting a staging business.

Home stagers, how often do you run into Pack Rat Clients? How have you dealt with getting paid fairly for all the time they take? Please share in the comments below.

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Home Staging

An internationally recognized home staging expert, Debra created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 8,000 students in 22 countries. She is the author of 5 guides, including the best-selling Staging Diva Ultimate Design Guide: Home Staging Tips, Tricks and Floor Plans.