how to become a home stager

Teri Allen is the owner of Desert Home Staging and Online Staging Pro. Her small business offers not only in-person consultation and staging services, but also online services. Teri is stopping by today to share her tips for starting a home staging business from home.

Hi, everyone.

As a result of starting my home staging businesses, I found that there is a whole untapped market that is in the gap between Home Staging and Interior Design businesses.

I would estimate that a good third of my business now is working with people who admittedly don't have the talent, time or energy to furnish and/or decorate their house and want and need help, but they don't need a full-on interior design job and they don't want to hire an expensive designer.

What Does a Home Stager Actually Do?

I was on a phone consultation last night for an hour looking at my client's photos and searching online for furniture I thought she would like. I helped her decide on selections that would work with her space and preferences. She was completely stuck before our call and when done she knew exactly what she wanted and what to do next. She was so excited she didn't want to get off the phone.

I'm working with her over the phone because she lives out of the area. She loved the job I did for her sister who has a home locally and wanted to work with me. Like my Online Staging Consultations, Decorating Consultations can easily be done over the phone with photos and internet access. This works for certain DIY clients who need help and advice but can do the legwork herself.

Onsite services vary but generally it's either a consultation format where I spend a few hours with the homeowner giving them advice and suggestions or I do the full job of design, purchase, install and
decorate.

What Do You Need to Start a Home Decorating/Staging Service?

This is what it would take for a person to start their own home decorating service with probably less than $100 investment if they already have a cell phone, computer and internet access:

Natural talent and passion for decorating
Enjoys furniture and decor shopping and knows the best places to find things at good prices
Is decisive and has the ability to work fast
Isn't afraid of hard work and long hours
Is friendly, service minded, gets along and works well with clients and vendors
A camera or good quality smartphone for before and after shots
Basic business abilities, computer skills, can budget money and time
A domain name that is location specific (to rank in local search results organically) and a basic website
The ability to market and sell their services and the initiative to find out how to do it themselves cheap
The ability to do a good job, earn repeat business and build a good reputation and referral base through online platforms like Yelp, Houzz, and Pinterest.
A toolbox filled with basic tools, picture hanging hardware, scissors, touch up sticks, and such
Lots of reusable shopping bags

They don't need:

A lot of money
Employees
A facility
Trucks
Equipment or
Professional design experience

How Much Do Home Stagers Make?

I charge by the hour, $100 for design ($300 flat for initial consultation) and $50 for shopping or flat fee by the job. The client pays for all purchases upfront or we use their credit card. I outsource all vendors, delivery, and labor and charge the client at cost sometimes with a small markup.

I really think it's a massive untapped market "home decorating service" that caters to the needs and budgets of the middle class or average homeowner (or apartment dweller).

Yesterday I met with a Canadian couple who just bought a second home and don't have the time or interest in furnishing it. They had an interior designer for the main home but here in the desert, they want an affordable and quick service that could furnish and decorate their new house in two weeks. I received a call a bit ago from a lady who is buying a condo who also wants help to furnish and decorate it.

Where Can You Learn More About Becoming a Home Stager?

There is no official home staging credential. The obvious skills you will need to get started include organization, a great eye for design, and color, and photography skills won't hurt either. Your credibility will come from the quality of your work. There are a few great resources and courses available online today to help you brush up on your skills and the latest styles.

QC Design School offers very reputable courses in a wide variety of design fields, including home staging. Payment plans are available.

Angie Nelson began working from home in 2007 when she took her future into her own hands and found a way to escape the corporate cubicle farm. Today she balances several successful online ventures and loves to share her passion for home business with others.

About Angie Nelson

Angie Nelson began working from home in 2007 when she figured out how to take her future into her own hands and escape the corporate cubicle farm. Angie's goal is sharing her passion for home business, personal finance, telecommuting, and entrepreneurship, and her work has been featured on Recruiter, FlexJobs and Business News Daily.