3 More Steps to Growing a Home Staging Business

Today we’ll tackle the next 3 steps to growing a home staging business. This article is a continuation of my last post on the first 2 steps to starting a home staging business.

3. Practice, practice, practice.

Arrange and rearrange your own home to see how many different looks you can create. Just moving furniture around and playing with accessories will reveal tons of possibilities.

Don’t forget to take lots of before and after photos, especially from many different angles!

These will be the start of your home staging portfolio.

My whole career as a home stager began with a total of 6 photos from my own house. It was enough to get me that first paying project.

From there I gradually replaced the photos of my own property with the ones from paying clients. And as I got better and better at home staging, my projects (and hence my photos) improved!

We all start at the beginning with no client experience.

4. Learn from successful home stagers and watch the market.

Don’t measure your beginning portfolio up against home stagers with many years of experience. As long as you can make a home look better than when you got there, you’ve added value for your clients!

I would not stage the first house I ever did in January 2003 the same way today. I have that much more experience. Yet, that first home staging project was a success — selling quickly at $40,000 over the asking price!

If I had been focussing on my home staging competition, I might have been too intimidated to ever call myself a professional home stager. And I would have denied myself a long, creative and profitable career.

The quickest route to your success is to find someone who has travelled the path you’re on and who is willing to let you learn from their mistakes.

That’s why I created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program.

I was 18 months into my own home staging business and earning up to $10,000 a month. I had been featured on HGTV and in magazines and newspapers. Hundreds of home stagers emailed wanting to know my secret for making money as a home stager.

So I put everything I learned the hard way and my background in marketing together and created my home staging courses.

5. Learn about your local real estate market.

As a home stager, you’re decorating houses to sell. This means you’ll need to be familiar with what properties look like at various price points.

Fortunately, that’s so easy to research online on sites like Zillow.com, Redfin.com, Zolo.ca, Realtor.com, etc.

Understanding what homes in different price ranges look like will make it so much easier to know what changes to recommend to your clients.

For example, there are many things I’ll ignore in an average priced home that I might insist on changing in a luxury property.

Home staging is always a matter of trade offs. After all, with unlimited time and money there are SO many things you could change in any property! You will have to draw the line somewhere and knowing where that is comes with practice and observing the market.

If that sounds intimidating, remember that there is no one single best answer to how to stage a particular home. Ten home stagers would have 10 different solutions!

Unsure of how much demand there is for home staging in your town or city? Are you wondering whether home staging will work in your area?

Check out my FREE report Ask Staging Diva: Will Home Staging Work in My Area?

Knowledge is power when you’re starting a home staging business.

What are your thoughts on becoming a home stager?

Did you realize there were steps you could be taking today to help you start your home staging business, even before you’re completely ready to ‘take the plunge’?

If you’re an established home stager, do you have a story you would like to share about the first steps you took to start your business?

Please share your comments and add to the discussion!

“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

3. Practice, practice, practice.

4. Learn from successful home stagers and watch the market.

5. Learn about your local real estate market.

What are your thoughts on becoming a home stager?

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