How to Create a Home Staging Report

The infamous, number one, question from soon to be Home Stagers, What is in your report? Do I have to do a report? Is it worth it? Oh my gosh, the list of questions regarding home staging reports are endless and I hope to address a couple of them for you. If this is your first time here you might want to go back a couple posts, What Is A Home Staging Consultation, and How To  Conduct Your First Home Staging Consultation. Then, you are ready to move on to your Home Staging Report.

How to Create a Home Staging Report

I have seen many online chats about home staging reports. Many saying they do not do them because they are time consuming. SO, then charge for your time! Which is what I do. I charge for the consultation, and 99% of the time I tell them the value in my home staging reports, and if they want one, it is extra.

Why do I think the Home Staging Report is a valuable tool?

1. I provide a lot of information during the consultation, but I am not going to waste time telling them, “wipe this light switch, clean out the bathroom exhaust fan, leave toilet seats down etc. There are bigger issues to discuss in consults. As a result, clients begin to feel overwhelmed and naturally will not remember everything we discuss. But you, the home stager, will! I will tell you how below..
2. Consults are to reveal your expertise, tips, and tricks, and build a relationship with your client. You want to gain their trust and have them trust you. Many times, I have had clients cry. YUP! So, remind them, “I know it’s a lot of information, no need to worry about it all today, that is why I will provide a report.” You don’t want your relationship to end after a consult. You want to get more jobs, providing fine tune staging, hands-on staging, or photo day staging. I will discuss all that in another post.
3. A majority of my clients have come back to say, “We went and checked off everything in the report!” or “thank you for the report, we went through it page by page.” That is enough for me to know it is valuable and I will continue to do them.

What is in MY Home Staging Report?

1. Front Page: Photo of exterior of home. My logo and my contact info
2. Page Two: A personalized “Thank you” for having me come into their home. Why taking the time to go through the report is important
3. Page Three – 17-30 (usually the length of a report) The Rooms
4. Last Page: Time Line (I always ask their goal list date, then create a backwards timeline for them to get the home ready), AND a list of my additional services and rates, which include;
   1. Hands-on Home Staging (this is with the homeowner working with me)
   2. Half Day or Full Day Staging (this is no homeowner helping and is me and an assistant or movers etc)
   3. Fine Tune Staging
   4. Photo Day Staging

What is Page 3 to 17 – 30

Every report has the “go-to lists” of items to complete. I created a template on word with what should be in every report i.e. Clean windows inside and out, toilet seats down, clean out exhaust fans etc etc. What 99% of all homes should do when they are getting ready to list. THEN I personalize the report room by room.

The report is a list, bullet points, so they can cross it off as they complete it. It is also broken broken down room by room, beginning with curb appeal and goes in order of the rooms as I walked through.

From entryway to living, dining, powder room, closet, kitchen etc. In every room, I take a couple room photos then more detailed photos. Spaces, areas of concern, chipped paint, floor scratches, bookshelf styling, anything and everything. Taking these photos is how I remember what needs to go in the report. I easily take 100 or more photos for each property. This is how I remember what to put in the report.

For instance, there might be a photo of the banister newel. I see in the photo that the paint is chipping, or it is dirty from grimy hands. That goes in the report.

For main areas, kitchen, master bedrooms, I will provide a comparable photo of a staged property. For instance, I will write, “I need your kitchen counters to look like this”…and provide a photo. “Your beds need to be made like this”….and show a photo.

If any purchases need to be made I provide a shoppable link as well. Try to make the staging process as easy as possible.

The only reason clients truly appreciate a good report is when it is personalized to their space. So make sure to go overboard with the personalization.

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