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What Was the Most Interesting Finding in the Survey Report?

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From the lens Home Staging - Things to Know.

If you have a copy of either the full report or the executive summary, I would appreciate it if you would leave your comments here.

  • Ellen Anderson Aug 2, 2008 @ 6:47 pm | delete
    Dear Earl,
    I found the survey extremely beneficial and comforting to know that I am not alone regarding certain aspects of the staging profession. I am the pioneer of staging in my area(2005)and I have found that marketing my business has proved to be more than a challenge. Expensive and frustrating are two words that come to mind. Learning from my mistakes is another big one.
    Staging is my passion and I have stuck with it and I feel it is starting to pay off. I have been featured on the news as well as a magazine for my staging. So the word is finally getting out. Thank you HGTV for really helping promote the definition and advantages of staging! Now when I try to explain what staging is at least most people have heard of it.
    Sincerely,
    Ellen Anderson, HSE
    Dressed to Sell, Home Staging
    Green Bay, WI
    www.dressedtosellhome.com
  • Audra Slinkey Jul 31, 2008 @ 10:37 am | delete
    Hi Ed,

    I'm still getting through the report but the one thing already that we, (Home Staging Resource) are taking away from it is to have an email capture and "auto drip" set up for our Member's websites. I love the constructive feedback and will be making the appropriate adjustments in our training to combat challenges! Thanks again and I'll be calling you soon:).

    Audra Slinkey
    President - Home Staging Resource
    http://www.homestagingresource.com
  • Amy Powers Jul 30, 2008 @ 1:26 pm | delete
    Thank you for taking the time to research this growing industry. The information is very useful in helping stream line the industry. RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) is a neutral Trade Association for Home Stagers. I recommend contacting them and sharing your information. Their goal is to provide a network for ALL stagers regardless of designation and stream line the industry as well. Thanks again.

    Amy Powers
    Metro Atlanta, GA
    Accent Home Staging
    www.accenthomestaging.biz
  • Laura Kakoschke Jul 30, 2008 @ 9:35 am | delete
    Thank you for compiling this information, it is so helpful to those of us who are new to staging and feel like we are all alone in our struggles to get established. Although I have been at this for just under a year, the marketing has been the Achilles heel for me - we have been mainly staging vacant properties, and this has at least provided a steady source of work. I do worry about the competition, as the numbers of schools cranking out a steady flow of grads is ever increasing. I do believe, however, that as cream rises to the top, only those with a lot of style, grit and determination are going to succeed in this business.
  • Chrissie Sutherland Jul 28, 2008 @ 6:58 am | delete
    Hi Earl,
    Thanks for doing this survey. I found all of it very interesting. I feel really lucky about the certification course I took through Home Staging Resource. Audra Slinky, President of HSR, really set us up for success. I have not really even marketed my business yet. I've been in business for 6 months and have stayed very busy. Through HSR they dedicate a week to marketing your business. It is so informative and Audra shares with us things I never would have even thought or known to do. There are also samples of every form you would need to start your business. There is so much information in this course, I know I would have been overwhelmed and probably would have failed if I would have try to start my business on my own. Thanks again Earl for this wonderful survey and including me in it.
    Ready Set Stage, Greensboro, NC
  • Sue Guidry Jul 27, 2008 @ 1:10 pm | delete
    Ed,
    New Stagers are taught not to WORK with more than three Realtors on a regular basis because they could become overwhelmed. They are NOT told to not contact more than three stagers, the important fact is to build a relationship with three Realtors who will feed you business on a steady basis. I work with five Realtors, but I have fifteen years experience and have learned how to schedule and execute without getting stressed. Newbies have to learn by trial and error on how many Realtors they cn handle at one time.
  • Baynette Blanchard Jul 26, 2008 @ 9:14 pm | delete
    I, all of a sudden, after reading your results...do not feel so alone any more!The marketing IS the hardest part for me also, with inventory control/storage coming in 2nd.My training & experience (3 yrs)gives me the confidence to not stress over ANY property with which I am confronted.But--that doggone marketing perplexes me--What works?What doesn't?Where do I put my money this month(as opposed to last year at this time since the market has drastically changed)? Earl, thanks for the information--it has given me a lot to ponder.I now know that I must improve my online presence, MAKE myself market directly to more Realtors (it's a numbers game!) & find "no cost" ways to promote my business. I need to do all of this with a realtistic, orderly written marketing plan.As a stager, order speaks to me...thanks for helping me set these priorities which will go on my calendar week by week. This will ensure that my marketing will continue even while I am in the midst of a project.
  • Kathy Mohr Jul 26, 2008 @ 6:50 am | delete
    Thanks, Earl for your survey, which will help to move our industry forward. Have yo thought of offering it to IRIS for distribution at their October Conference? (www.weredesign.com)
    I haven't gotten through of it yet, and will continue to do so. So far, no big surprises. As for your biggest surprise....not so surprising to me. If yo had asked what was the biggest surprise any of us had when we went into business, I'd bet the response would be: "how much time, money, and energy it takes to market." On some level, we all know 'you have to get out there.' On another, it is a constant effort to 'get work' while still getting established, and to remain positive and upbeat and engaged until the marketing succeeds.
  • Jo Ann Coulter-Wientjes Jul 25, 2008 @ 4:43 pm | delete
    I too was extremely surprised at all the part timers. The report Exec. Summary gives a good overview of the industry. The experiences I have & am having on Marketing appear to be the hardest part of it all. Good work & about time someone did something such as this. You might want to hook up with the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) to make them aware of your report if you haven't already done so. http://www.realestatestagingassociation.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=304550&sl=22245185
  • Pam Bosetti Jul 25, 2008 @ 1:21 pm | delete
    I enjoyed reading the results of the survey very much. I was not that surprised by any of the answers as it seemed that the majority of people who responded had very similar answers to my own. I've been in business a little over six months and after reading the results, I felt good about how my business is unfolding thus far. Thank you very much for including me in your survey!
  • DesAnn Collins Jul 24, 2008 @ 12:19 pm | delete
    Wow Earl this information is very enlightening! It is amazing to see how many Staging pros are part time. I was not surprised to see that Marketing is the "tuff nut" to crack.
    I must also say that I am flattered to see that you have named Design By DesAnn of Ohio a "Top Dog"...Thank you.
    We work over 80 hours per week helping others!

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enetwal

Welcome to my Squidoo Lens. My name is Earl Netwal. I help small businesses get more customers by becoming more "findable" online.

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