Staging has come a long way in just a few short years. Tremendous exposure and interest have also brought many misconceptions along with it. These misconceptions are an every day challenge when it comes to running a Staging business.
The majority of my business from the start has been Consultations or Reports for Homeowners who are on a tight budget and wish to do Staging themselves. I found the need early on to begin my Consultations with what I call "the cherry on top speech."
So many people out there consider Staging as a way to conceal flaws or at least divert attention away from flaws. I think the Staging community sometimes unwittingly contributes to this perception through some of the marketing I have seen, including my own. I see a lot of wording along the lines of.... buyers will focus on the overall feel and look of a property and will tend not to nit pick or notice minor flaws. This no doubt gives naysayers ammunition in the "war" on Staging that seems to pop up a lot on blogs or comments on articles about Staging. Stagers are accused of being Deceptive Decorators and other such nonsense.
So...my "cherry on top" speech is just another opportunity to educate Sellers that Staging is an effective tool if used properly. I am pretty picky and have turned down full Staging jobs because the Homeowner did not want to make repairs or upgrades I recommended. It is a hard thing to do. Of course I always understand budget issues and try to consider them. This is why all my Consultations prioritize fixes by expense and importance. Sellers need to realize that no amount of Staging will fix cracks, leaking plumbing or stained worn carpet. Of course I always try to recommend creative fixs or solutions that could save expense but some people are down right stubborn. Thus the speech.
I am writing this because I lost a job just this week for this reason. The Seller told me he was in a hurry and did not have the time (or money) to do the recommended fixes. He wanted me to go ahead and Stage and "let's see what happens." Yes, let's see what happens. My company name will be mud and he will be out money that he could have used to fix a few things. I could do it......nope not gonna do it. I am sure he will find someone else who will, with my report in hand no less. Days like these.
Ana- Good for you! Did they seem shocked that you were passing on the job? I guess you could interpret it as the seller saying "let's just make it pretty, and maybe no one will notice all the work that needs to be done." I think here on AR we refer to it as putting perfume on a pig! I can't imagine how NOT fun it would be to stage a home that you know is going to just sit on the market.
Ana, I have blogged about and done the same. Lost an agent that gave me substantial business but wouldn't listen and have walked away from more than one potential job because the things that need to happen before the decor wouldn't be done. It's never easy and I try to remain flexible but I don't want my business to be part of any possible deceptive practives. Bravo to you. Swallow hard and move on again!
Dito here, and I think the majority of us have been there. I recently blogged Intergrity vs, the Quick Buck You did the right thing and you will only rise above because of it. Bank of Karma!
I am also in complete and total agreement. There are jobs you simply have to say, "If you have $1000 to spend on furniture then you need to spend that $1000 fixing ________"
When peole start saying "Oh I moved the rug over there because the carpet was stained", then red flags start going up. I then suggest having the stains removed, etc.
The stained, worn carpet is the perfume on the pig-you just can't stage properly on that! It is just wasting good money to do this! You are a smart business owner to refuse this job. More quality stagings will come to you by not doing this one. I applaud you!!
Ana, you have a very good business sense to walk away from the jobs that don't follow your recommendations, or don't properly showcase how staging works, your reputation in this business is everything. Keep focusing on the jobs you want and you will attract them like bees to honey!!
Cheers, Emily, Celebrate Staging, Vancouver, BC
Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone.
Elaine : He didn't seem shocked but his comments to me were along the lines of business must be good for me.....if he only knew how hard!
Ginger: I totally agree about the flexibility and as a newbee, turning down a profitable job is a killer. I am former military and have always understood the difference between Stragtegic and Tactical thinking....Strategic requires lots of patience especially when starting a business!
Connie: I am a HUGE believer in Karma and that rules most of my major decisions in life.
Melissa, Cindy, Cathy and Alexandra/Emily thanks for the positive reinforcement, it will keep my chin up!
Thanks so much for the feature/star!!!! It makes my misery a little easier to take.
Ana, good call. Leaving this at his door, gives you room for the people who value and want your services. He doesn't "get" it, and it would have been a fight all the way. You'll have time to relax or read a book rather than stress yourself out because you care more about his outcome than he does?
Ana: Was the seller asking you to conceal the needed repairs with staging accesories/furniture? I am a newbie too and this is a whole other dimension of staging I now need to think about. The more I learn - the more complicated it gets! Thanks for sharing your experience. I feel your pain!
I can see situations where owners can't afford costly repairs in a home but are selling it with full disclosure, but still want to make the home look presentable for market. It's kind of a catch 22 isn't it? Spend money on repairs or spend on staging. I guess you have to take each one on a case by case basis. But you are right, having your name associated with someone who isn't doing things above board is a recipe for disaster. It's funny how people will spend on some things but not others. I had a someone who had poured thousands into renovating a home but wouldn't get the windows washed (which badly needed it) for less than $200. Go figure.
Holly,
Among some of the more glaring flaws were a 1 X 2 foot patch of flooring in the family room where it looked like his dog had scratched and chewed like he was trying to bury a bone or something. The seller wanted to just cover it up with rugs and furniture. This is one occupied that I would have definitely needed to bring in outside furnishings, something I have never done. There was also missing baseboard throughout. One more thing, the backyard looked like a bombsite. This guy has one busy dog! I would have had to include back door padlocks on my accessories list so no one could get outside for a look.
Thanks for the good advise Terrylynn
Good for you for turning down this job! I know it was hard to do but your reputation is worth much more then this job. :)
Oh my these are the challenges. What did his Realtor say? Must be a new Realtor to you? I have several Realtors who have been with me for a while and a couple of fabulous new ones who completely understand that Staging is THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. Yes, there are times that the homeowners can't do everything, but we put together a menu of choices and we work on the ones they can do. My crew of handymen, painters, etc. can transform a place and when a Realtor is on board with true staging the homeowner always comes around because the Realtor is not going to be able to sell it if they don't. I feel for you and you are only going to get more business for it! Kym
Good for you to stick to your guns ethics!
I don't understand why someone would pay for a report only to say...lets just cover it.
I have told clients during a consult (paid for) that the budget they have for the staging would be better spent doing the work on the property. I never hear back from them (as I won't book the staging)...I hope that I don't hear from them because they've taken their budget and done the work!
I am with you on that decision! I have never heard the phrase "deceptive decorators" but I can see how some people would believe that is what Staging is about.
Ana, That is one nasty looking back yard! Can you imagine what would have happened to the furniture and accessories you might have brought in with that dog on the loose? You saved yourself a lot of headaches turning it down. I'm sure a better job more deserving of your talents and integrity will come along to take it's place. Good Luck!
I guess some comments got lost in my box somewhere sorry.
Janice: Thanks neighbor... we need to meet up some time!
Kym, This home was listed with a local agent however the listing expired and the owner decided to go it alone (surprise, surprise!). The agent told me in her own polite way that this owner was a "bear" to work with. I have yet to find a Realtor to team up with on a regular basis. It is tough going around here with all the repos and short sales. You may be right about getting more business though because she wants to talk with me more about my company!
Dane, it takes all kinds! I don't get it either.
Tori, sadly there are too many people who believe we are hired to cover things up, this guy must be one of those.
Actually when I think about it, everything looked like one giant chew toy...Thanks Holly!
Some jobs just have to be turned down. I turned one down last month that needed many repairs and the client didn't want to do any of them. He just wanted me to stage the house and "hide as many flaws as I could" so he could put it on the market. I told him our company isn't in business to conceal flaws and mislead potential buyers and his money would be better spent doing the necessary repairs rather than staging. He was highly insulted. Go figure.
Hi Nancy,
I guess it probably happens more than we would like. It is just really frustrating when you are trying to establish your business and you pull this type of client. I don't market myself as the cheapest guy in town so it mystifies me. Thanks for commenting.
Ana - I feel your pain. It's tough in today's market to turn down work but sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. Good for you on turning it down, something bigger and better will come along.