Starting a Home Staging Business: Focus on What You Have

In January 2003 I did my first paid home staging project for a client.

Who could have imagined where my new home staging business would lead?

Definitely not me.

I was just trying to use my creativity to earn a living and support my family.

I had no interior design training.
I had never decorated anyone’s home but my own.
I was a single mom with a mortgage, without child support payments.

Had I only focussed on this list of what I didn’t have, I never would have become a home stager. Starting a home staging business in those circumstances seems crazy, right?

Mindset is everything when you’re trying to take bold action.

What I lacked in interior design training, I knew I made up for in talent.

Home decor had been a passion of mine since I was a little girl and created a whole environment for my first Barbie®.

Scraps of fabric, pages from old magazines, popsicle sticks, empty cereal boxes. Whatever I could find around the house became fodder for Barbie’s furniture, wallpaper, etc.

I knew I had talent for decorating and choosing paint color because people had been telling me for years that I should “decorate for a living.”

I knew I had home staging talent because I had bought, staged and flipped 4 of my own homes. This gave me the first-hand experience of what a difference it makes when you decorate a house to sell.

I didn’t even know it was called home staging when I did my first condo back in the early 1990s. Perhaps, it didn’t have a name yet.

So my point is, if you know you have talent, don’t keep sitting on it and waiting for the “perfect time” to start your home staging business. There will never be a more perfect time.

All we really have is “right now.”

Our scarcest resource is our time. We can never get that back.

Sure you can waste years trying to figure out how to make more money on your own. Have you actually saved anything with this method? On the other hand, you can take one big shortcut and get a ready-made home staging business model to follow.

It’s sad when I hear from women who tell me they only make $50 or $100 when they do a home staging consultation. Then they tell me they can’t afford to learn a better way.

In fact, they can’t afford not to!

They will never have more money if they keep making such little money. If they keep doing the same things, they’re going to keep getting the same results.

Nothing will ever change except that time marches on, and they’re getting more and more defeated by their unrealized dream.

Call me crazy to suggest: Stop going to Costco and loading up on stuff you don’t really need right now, pass on that new spring wardrobe, the vacation, or a few fancy restaurant meals, and guess what?

Suddenly you have the funds to invest in your home staging education.

The funds to learn what you need to know to have a profitable home staging business.

And the ironic thing is that once you have the right business model, you’ll likely make your entire training investment back with the first client or two.

Home staging is one of the least expensive businesses to start.

Least expensive, when you do it right. When you don’t fall into the home staging business traps of:

Investing in your own home staging inventory
Spending money on magazine and newspaper advertising
Spending money on door to door flyers
Giving your time away in free home staging estimates
Discounting your time to win the favor of real estate agents
The list goes on and on!

If you’ve never been a home stager and you’re just to afraid to start, I can assure you fear is part of the process. It never actually goes away entirely.

What happens is you learn how to take action despite your fears. That’s why I spend so much time on this topic inside the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program.

Boosting your confidence is a key piece the business model I share.

If you’re a struggling home stager wondering why you’re not getting enough clients, or why real estate agents keep ignoring you, it’s time you learned a different way to operate your home staging business.

One that will totally change your thinking on what to charge, how to find the right clients, and how to make sure you get paid.

Comments

Faith Alfreda Tyler says

April 2, 2020 at 8:34 am

I have wanted to get detailed information to move forward with this business idea for several years. Looking forward to proceeding.
- Debra Gould says
  
  April 5, 2020 at 1:37 pm
  
  I’m glad you found me Faith! You can read about the Staging Diva Training Program, which will give you a complete business model to follow here.
  
  Also, I’ve got some excellent free gifts to get you started here.

“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!”
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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.

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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

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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.

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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!”
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— Amy Brown (MO)*Simply Staging by Amy

Mindset is everything when you’re trying to take bold action.

All we really have is “right now.”

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