You conducted your first Home Staging consultation OR you are the client and just had your home staging consult. Now what? As a stager you might be wondering how to follow up or maintain a connection with the seller. As a seller you might be feeling overwhelmed and wondering what your next steps are. Below are some tips for the stager and seller on what do to after the home staging consult.
After The Home Staging Consult
TIPS FOR THE HOME STAGER
- If you conducted a Walk N’ Talk Consult, remind the seller they can receive a detailed Home Staging Report within 2-3 business days to help guide them if they are taking on the staging process as a D.I.Y
- Purchase my example home staging report.
- At the end of your consult or in the report always offer to help the seller with “Hands-on Home Staging.” You can charge by the hour for smaller projects, i.e. staging bookshelves or closets to charging by half-day or full-day options for larger projects.
- After the consult, I add reminders to my online calendar to “check-in” with the seller at 2 weeks, 1 month, and monthly if I know they have a 6+month timeline. Many times sellers say they don’t need help, but after a couple of email follow-ups and time has passed they realize they are not on track and need more hands-on help.
- If you have the stellar seller who has purchased the report and completed everything in it, they might just want you to come for “Fine-Tune Staging” prior to photos. Always offer Fine-Tune Staging, a flat fee for coming in the morning of photos to touch up and make it picture perfect.
- For the seller who is overwhelmed after the consult offer Project Management services. This is an hourly rate for onsite and offsite work. Much like a professional decorator/organizer. I coordinate all the contractors, cleaners to the rental furniture delivery and more.
TIPS FOR THE SELLER
- You just had your first home staging consult and feel lost. Ask your home stager if they provide a detailed report. Ideally by room and in a checklist format. This allows you to go through the staging process in an organized way.
- The report should have names/numbers of contractors and make it easy for you to complete the staging homework. PLUS, hourly rates if you want your home stager to come back and help you through the process.
- With the help of your home stager, usually in the report, have goal dates, a timeline, of what needs to be completed by when. For instance, decluttering closets by 1/3 to contacting painters for quotes.
- My Ideal Timeline for the Seller:
- Begin the packing / decluttering of all spaces. Every closet, cabinet, built-in. Use the 1/3 rule
- During this time get quotes for any contract work
- Make any fixture purchases. i.e. light fixtures, faucets, doorknobs
- If rental furniture is needed, contact furniture rental company to get initial quotes
- Once the property is skimmed down any contract work begins. This makes it easier for all involved. From painting to flooring or switching out fixtures.
- Have property professionally cleaned
- Schedule rental furniture delivery if needed
- Schedule time for the home stager to come back and fine-tune all the spaces.
