Home Staging Pennsylvania- Hart & Associates Servicing the Main Line, Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

I write this today from a personal note as I feel  like I have to defend myself for writing a previous blog that was meant to inspire not criticize. When I posted my piece about the responsibility that training companies have to the staging industry it was originally meant to be a celebration of what we here at Stage it Forward as stagers have accomplished- the first ever joining together of stagers across the nation to discuss issues facing the industry regardless of designation or affiliation. 

I thought the response to the blog was actually positive. Two major staging training companies offered to work with other companies in an effort to find some common ground. A discussion was started that hopefully will bear results in the future.

Those of you that take the time to read my work know that I am not anti-designation or anti-education. If anything I have dedicated myself to educating others in the staging industry and continue to do so on the local and national level with my coaching program and seminars.  I made the choice not to affiliate myself with a designation because I want people to realize that there is no ONE designation for stagers. There are many that are valuable and that people should be proud to have earned, but I want to remain neutral so I can be a sounding board for others.

The message that was missed in that post was this:

"But the stagers that have joined SIF know that until we are willing to reach across the chasm and share with other stagers, this industry cannot reach the tipping point where it will come main stream. Until we are willing to get over our fear that some other stager will "steal "our secrets we cannot make people take us seriously. "

This is what concerns me the most:

Some people do not understand why stagers would want to meet at the round tables to meet and share a voice. People are concerned about submitting staging stats, scared of who will hold the data and who will have the information.  I am not suggesting that asking questions is wrong- I too have some of the same concerns as Michelle Minch about the collection of information and I applaud her for taking the time to write such a thorough and thought provoking post- but what I am asking is for people to change the way that they approach their thinking and consider this:

The staging industry will not exist as an industry unless staging professionals gather together and meet to determine a common voice, a common goal, and some common language.  Without unity it will continue to be small staging businesses acting alone. Without meeting together it will still be one designation of stagers opposed to another designation of stagers. Don't we all have the same goals? To have successful business, to services our clients and to make sure that there is a future for our industry?

I am not suggesting that we become "Robo-Stagers" who do everything the same. I am not suggesting that we do not compete for business with other stagers- competition makes us strive to provide better service. I am also not suggesting any sort of national standards for pricing- we as stagers know that each property is a unique project and there is no cookie cutter formula for service.

What I am suggesting is that we trust each other. And listen. And learn. And for 2 hours really talk about what the future of staging will be, should be and CAN be.  What I hope is that we can let go of our fear, our egos, our affiliations and stop and think. We are on the brink of something amazing. We have the power to make a change in the way that consumers market and sell their homes.  We have the power to change the Real Estate Industry!

It is not all kumbaya. It is not a kool-aid fest. It is a chance to change the culture that we operate in. It is a chance to embrace what is new and what is different. It is a chance to grow a future and let go of the fear.

Today I took that step. And today another stager in my area took that step towards me too. She called me to talk about a client that she bid against me on. She had a problem with him and wanted my advice. We talked for almost an hour. We shared concerns, shared ideas, and shared some laughs. And for a moment I did not feel so alone. For a moment I did not feel so protective. For a moment I did not feel like I was the only one running a small business. For a moment I let go of the fear.

And then I went back to staging . KH

In the spirit of Staging it Forward you are invited to join us for our first regional Stage it Forward Round table discussion group.

At the luncheon we will talk about out the staging industry, the new statistics submission form, and ways that we can work together to educate consumers.

All staging professional regardless of training or accreditation are welcome to attend.

Date: Friday November 30, 2007

Location: Cort Furniture Showroom, Maple Shade NJ

Time: 11:30-??

Please rsvp to Kate Hart kate@hartstaging.com at least 3 days prior to the event. Cort is generously providing lunch and we need to give them an accurate number of attendees for planning purposes.

If you are travelling to the area and need information on hotels, transportation etc please send me an email and I will assist you with arrangements.

Please share this invitation with other stagers that may not be members of Stage-it-Forward so they can join our group.

Morning all,

It's not just movers anymore....

I was just sitting here appreciating my extra hour to use AR (yes I am addicted) when I did a google search and came across this new company offering home staging services in my local area:

REGAL SERVICES COMPANY- they offer lawn furniture cleaning, spa and hot tub cleaning, home cleaning and HOME STAGING!

For years I have been working to educate consumers that Home Stagers are not home cleaners- we are marketing professionals that help prepare homes for sale and make them more appealing to their target demographic. This just set me back a few years!

I am having a party for my son's class next weekend and I need to have my home cleaned. I am thinking of having them come in and give me a staging consult instead! My lawn furniture needs powerwashing too!

Yikes! kh