advice

Business Best Friends

December 17, 2021 by Naomi

When you create your own business it is so important to ensure you surround yourself with your best business related friends. It is important that you have people around you who are supportive of you but will also tell you when you have done something wrong and keep your ego in check! Business best friends are different to personal best friends though. You might not have even met your business best friends had you not stepped foot into your industry. They’re people who share common goals and understandings but aren’t necessarily personal friends. So, who should these business best friends be?

A real best friend. Someone that you knew before your business venture and has come on the journey with you. They might work for you now or they might just be there as a drawing board for you to run ideas past

An entrepreneur from a related industry. As an entrepreneur yourself it is important that you have someone who is like you in their way of thinking and day to day necessities.
Someone in the real estate industry. This doesn’t necessarily have to be an agent but it certainly can be! Having someone that understands an industry that you are heavily involved with is of utmost importance. Make them your go-to person for any questions regarding their industry because they are the expert.
A legal expert. Running along the same lines as someone in the real estate industry, a legal expert is someone who you know will give your sound and quality advice without having anything malicious against your business.
Someone else in your industry. Becoming business best friends with someone who works in the same industry as you is a great way to keep up to date with industry issues and also allows for a great point of call if you can’t complete a project. Creating positive vibes throughout the industry is important due to the size of the industry. Ensuring that you have someone who knows exactly what you’re talking about is a great way to maintain a positive and sound mind frame.

What Beds to Use in Home Staging

November 26, 2021 by Naomi

One of the most frequently asked questions from our students and those getting started in the industry…..

We’re just starting up our home staging business and we really need to know about how you do your beds.

That’s an interesting question, isn’t it?

Let’s look at our options when we are deciding on beds to use for an installation of a property for sale.

The first option is, obviously, a traditional slatted timber bed that needs to be pretty much built on site. It has the side rails that has the header and the footer and the slats that the mattress would sit upon. There’s one option.

The next option is an ensemble bed. So the traditional base and mattress.

The last option is a bit of a more temporary bed. It may be an inflatable bed, it may be a camp stretcher with an inflatable mattress on top or it may be a camp stretcher with a foam mattress on top.

These are all different sorts of options. That’s not all of them, but they are some of the different options that you have when you’re staging a property and you want to put in some beds.

What do we do? If I’m going to be dead honest about what we did when installing for my home staging business, we actually used a lot of ensemble beds.

We used to use the slatted headers and footers with the side rails, but the time it took to construct the beds on site meant that our productivity was greatly diminished.

And that meant that we needed more than one person to be on site installing every single house, even after the initial drop off of furniture was complete by the muscle, basically. That was a bit of a negative for us. It really did take some time.

The other thing we noticed is that the mechanisms that you’re adhering everything to did, over time and after multiple assembling and disassembling, wear. We steered away from that.

That pointed us to our ensemble beds.

We have, as well, used all varieties of camp stretchers and foam mattresses/camp stretches and air mattresses, but one of the big problems we found with air mattresses was that sometimes they do go down.

You often find that the time you get a call is 7:30/8:30/9:00/10:00 on a Saturday when, often, you’re busy doing other things, saying,

“I’ve just taken everyone into an open home and the mattress is deflated. I need something else here right now because the open home has pretty much been ruined by the fact that there’s a deflated mattresses and a slump-looking bed sitting in what might have been an amazing master suite before.”

One of the problems I have with inflatable beds is they certainly have their locations, but one of the things that you need to make sure you think about is they aren’t 100% reliable.

I can probably hear many people going, “What about those places where you can’t get an ensemble base into?” Absolutely right. It’s a huge, huge challenge.

There are many places, especially in the older parts of town, where the stairwells are too skinny and the lifts are too small and the landings at the top of stairs are too small to be able to work an ensemble base around.

In those cases, we actually have to use a mattress and we prop the mattress up on tubs. The same tubs that we use to pack the bedroom accessories and linen etc.

There you go. There are our sneak peeks and our behind the scenes of what we did while staging a home for beds. I hope you’ve learned something from that; I hope that there’s something that you can take and integrate into your home staging business and into all the different situations that it may be applicable.

If you have really specific questions about your business, make sure you check out our memberships. Our Professional Membership has a closed Facebook forum where you can pretty much ask anything you want.

The members of the community and myself will be jumping in there to help. Pop over and check them out. They’re all on the website.

5 Reasons You Should Never Show An Empty Room to Buyers

October 29, 2021 by Naomi Findley

With home staging on the rise, it’s becoming less likely to see a property on the market that the vendor has styled themselves.

However, one thing we do still see quite a lot is empty rooms. This can pose a big risk to the saleability of your property and in some instances, be even more detrimental then a poor styling job.

Here are the top 5 reasons to never show an empty space to buyers.

1. You risk making a big space feel smaller

If there is nothing in the room, it is difficult to comprehend the scale of the room, so even a large space may not be appreciated for its size.

2. The buyer can’t imagine living there

Potential buyers will not be able to imagine how the furniture will fit or look like. Unsure people will not proceed to a purchase.

3. It’s easier to spot the cons and miss the pros

If the room is empty, it is natural for the buyer to concentrate on the negative sides of the house or even under-appreciate a beautifully designed flowing space.

To make a great first impression, it is necessary to keep their focus away from the cons and really emphasise the highlights of the home.

4. Negative thoughts about the previous homeowners

When presenting an empty space, you run the risk of buyers becoming distracted by other thoughts.

They could start wondering about previous owners and what happened to them; why they are selling their house? This may lead them to lose interest or offer a lower price, thinking that the owner is in need.

5. They don’t see the property as a home

Finally, it is very important to remember that most people don’t want to buy a house, they search for a home.

Home staging can create the romantic bridge between the buyer and the house by establishing an emotional connection. Smart styling and accessorising can make your house feel warm and welcoming to potential buyers.

There you have it, the 5 reasons to never leave a room empty when going to market.

Consider working with your old furniture if having your property fully styled is not an option – you can update it with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware. Just never leave the space bare!

Do you want to join a supportive and knowledgable group of home staging professionals? Check out our Professional Membership today!

How to Create a Bidding War through Home Staging

October 22, 2021 by Naomi

Despite the name, bidding wars aren’t a bad thing when selling your property. A bidding war is when two potential buyers keep upping their purchase price because they both want the property. Instead of settling for lower price, another potential purchaser could keep increasing their price until the other potential buyer drops out of the purchasing game. While it is impossible to predict what properties will have bidding wars when they are on the market there are a few steps that you as a home stager can take to ensure your client will sell their property for the highest price possible.

Staging for the market is a key step in home staging and can dramatically influence how much attention the property has on the market. If the property is in a family orientated area there is no point staging the property as if a bachelor is your target market. Taking key steps in researching the current market climate, researching the area the property is in and staging the property appropriately is of utmost importance in ensuring the property will receive the attention it deserves on the market.

Image Credit: Naomi Findlay Pty Ltd

It is super important that you as the stager do not over-stage the property you are working on. Over-staging will deter buyers and will also result in a price drop on the property due to a lack of interest. It is your job to allow potential buyers to pay their maximum price for the property. It is for this reason that knowing and having a clear target market is so important. Knowing your target market will give you a clear image in your mind of who the purchaser will be allows you as the home stager to ensure the property is staged for them. Knowing who the potential buyers are and what their possible purchase price range is will allow you to give your client the best possible chance at staging a property that will have two people fighting over who wants to purchase the property more.

Image Credit: Naomi Findlay Pty Ltd

Staging the property so countless potential buyers can see themselves living in the property is a great way to ensure multiple potential buyers. Do this by using neutral tones and avoid overusing any style trends. While you don’t want the property to stay on the market for years it is important to stage the property as if it will still look this year in years to come…is there anything that will go out of fashion? If so, get rid of it. Potential buyers have to be able to see themselves living in the property, not seeing it as if it is staged to look good for this current season.

Why You Should Start Your Home Staging Career in 2021

October 15, 2021 by Naomi

Who doesn’t love redecorating their bedroom? Imagine doing that as a career! Home staging is booming and it’s much more than just redecorating people’s bedrooms. Home staging is all about knowing the market, appealing to the demographic for the current market, while looking at what’s on trend, designing property aesthetics and then staging the property for the market that will sell at the best price possible. So, why should you start your home staging career in 2021?

Home staging is a necessity: once home staging enters an area it will never leave! Gone are the days of poorly tidied homes for sale, full of kids toys and stray dog hairs. Home staging allows you to put the properties best face forward and give potential buyers the best view of what they are buying. Home staging is all about potential and discovering both the properties inner potential and your inner potential.
People finally get it: for years home stagers have struggled with the question of ‘so what do you do that I can’t do?’ but alas the rest of the world is finally starting to get it. Home staging is more than just what looks good. Home stagers are a mix of real estate analysis and design trends analysis, meeting somewhere in the middle.
You don’t have to be trained overseas: the rise in home staging institutions in Australia has meant that up and coming home stagers are learning content that is directly related to what they will experience in Australia.
There is a home staging community: because home stagers have set on the bench for so long waiting for their time to shine a strong community has been built on support, successes and failures. Without the Internet home staging would not be as popular as it is now and that is primarily due to home stagers coming together online to share their experiences and design skills.
Higher quality performances: more home stagers mean that more people are gaining home staging experience which in turn raises the level of home staging projects. This allows for the entire industry to be seen as its own entity compared to people without any formal accreditation who stage properties for their personal style rather than the needs of the market.

All in all, home staging is on the rise and getting into the industry now is a great opportunity to skyrocket any career.

Must-Have Home Staging Stock

September 10, 2021 by Naomi

When you reach a certain point in your home staging business, acquiring stock and inventory is an essential step up.

Purchasing this stock might seem like a bit of a leap, and depending on what stock you purchase, it might be.

However, if you are smart about what and how much stock you purchase, you could improve your overall home staging business.

Create a Sanctuary — Image via Style Curator

When it comes to stock there is typically two types: soft furnishings and hard furnishings.

Soft furnishings include items such as pillows, linen, lamps and small accessories. The way I like to think about soft furnishings is that I could pack them all in a box and put them in my car.

On the other hand, hard furnishings are big items such as lounges, arm chairs, dining tables, coffee tables, and so on. These are the items that can’t be packed and loaded single handedly.

Logically, soft furnishings should be acquired first, then later down the track hard furnishings can be acquired. It’s important to be able to consider what sort of stock you should have now!

SOFT FURNISHINGS

When it comes to soft furnishings, the items below can be purchased relatively cheaply and in bulk.

Pillows: Purchasing pillows that work well in a wide range of environments is a great way to get the most out of your money. Choose pillows in a few colours and designs so they can be used on their own or grouped together.
Faux flowers and plants: Faux flowers and plants are great when the right ones are purchased because they can look amazing and used in a range of spaces and styles. Plus they last a long time!
Books: Theses can be purchased from an op shop and are a great way to add texture and create a ‘lived in’ feeling to any space. These are the most cost-effective soft furnishings and can be used in any environment, from a study, bedroom, lounge room or even an outdoor setting.
Knick-knack accessories: These are small accessories that can be used in a variety of environments – anything from vessels, small bowls, candle holders, or any other small accessories.
Linen packs: This isn’t absolutely necessary, but having coverlets and toppers can transform a room from something dull to something amazing.

229f1da3e9e8b569b0beceee69dce779 — Image via immyandindi.com.au

HARD FURNISHINGS

As for hard furnishings, these items are more expensive so it is beneficial to go for quality over quantity.

Mattresses: Often clients do not have enough beds to show off the best use of the space, or they have moved and have taken their mattresses with them so these are a must!
Dining chairs: Not all dining chairs go with tables, or look good with them, so having some neutral dining chairs that work with a range of colours is a great idea so you can use the clients dining table.
Bedside tables: Bedside tables have the potential to open up the bedroom and transform the space into something amazing. Having bedside tables that are unique, yet work well in a variety of environments is essential.
Lounges: Lounges can easily begin to look old, worn and unpleasant when they’ve been used for years. Having lounges in stock that are a neutral colour are a great idea as they can be used in a range of different styled homes.
Coffee tables: Coffee tables are a great way to show off the space in a lounge room and add an element of homeliness to the space. Not everyone has a coffee table, and if they do it might be old and worn. Having new, coffee tables as part of your stock can transform a space.

5512a478c1edcd04581dc6e05593f575 — Image via southernliving.com

How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Staging Experience

July 30, 2021 by Naomi

When you are preparing to put your property on the market, chances are you want the best price possible right? Of course!

This usually means hiring a home stager to give you the best chance at getting the highest return. You can choose to have your property completely staged (if you are planning on removing all your furniture prior to inspections), or you can opt for partial styling.

Now, if you want to use home staging to your fullest advantage, there’s a few things you should do before having a consultation with your property stylist.

1. De-clutter

De-cluttering your property is a must before it goes on sale and before you have a consultation with a home stager. Remove the stacks of DVD’s, CD’s, and bookshelves stacked high with odds and ends. All the things you have been meaning to clear out and anything that doesn’t have a spot must be sorted. Not only will this help in the moving process but it will instantly make your property feel more spacious and fresh!

b363605415be4c504ab6c930559cc457 — Image via apartment34.com

2. Remove valuables and images

You don’t want your valuables to be damaged during the sale process. If something is special to you but it does not go with the theme of the property, removing it prior to a home stager coming in is a good idea so someone else doesn’t have to tell you to remove it. Similarly, removing images is a must! Potential buyers don’t want to feel like they are walking through someone else’s property so family photos are unnecessary.

3. Remove toys

Even if you are living in the property during the sale process, limiting the amount of toys used to a small box that can easily be packed away in the car during open homes is a great idea. Toys are not necessary when displaying a home as a family home. Not only that but toys in the home during open houses make the property feel as if it is someone else’s and potential buyers cannot fully imagine themselves living in the space.

2b6488ed9394703e9e765d7a8c9218cc — Image via mydomainehome.com.au

4. Yard cleanliness

Keeping your yard in immaculate condition during the sale process is of utmost importance! Street appeal is the first thing that draws a buyer in so ensuring that the yard looks well-kept, with trimmed hedges, cut grass and clean footpaths is absolutely essential!

af6f6323ff2fc3883b5f95223dc1abd2 — Image via homestolove.co.nz

5. Be open

There is no point hiring a stager if you are going to shut down every idea they have. Good home stagers are experts in design and the real estate market, which means they know what sells and what doesn’t. If you hire a stager but then rearrange everything as soon as they leave, then the whole process was a waste of your time and money. The property design does not have to be to your personal taste, or even to the personal taste of the stager, it just has to be that of the market.

Do these things combined with the guidance of your property stylist, and you’ll see your property selling faster and for more money!

Bathroom Renovations for Sale: The Must-Do’s

July 23, 2021 by Naomi

It is inevitable that before you sell your property you will have to do some bits and bobs around the house.

Renovating your bathroom ready for sale can get quite expensive quickly so it is important to figure out what you should be investing in.

Your bathroom could make or break how fast and how much your property sells for. So, what should you invest your money in to and what should you skip when renovating?

Here’s 6 must-do’s that should be on your list:

Ensure that the toilet is in complete working order – it’s a must! This is something that will start being used as soon as the new owners move in so it is absolutely essential. If the toilet bowl is cracked, leaking, wobbly or looks old then it is time to replace it for the market. No one wants to buy a house with a toilet that looks gross or broken so it is of utmost importance to fix this up right away!

2. Make sure all taps are working correctly. Fix any leaks or loose handles before you put your property on the market. The good thing about this is that it can be done in half an hour at a reasonably low price! Don’t stress if the hot and cold labels are mixed up or the wrong way around. This is common and not difficult to figure out.

3. Ensure that all drawers in the vanity and bathroom area are in working order. Focus on making sure they are clean, and open and close smoothly.

4. Fix any cracked, chipped or mouldy tiles. As most bathrooms have tiles on the floor and walls, it is absolutely essential that the tiles look clean and new.

5. Ensuring that all plumbing is in working order. If your plumbing looks dodgy or doesn’t work properly, your property will probably not get the price it deserves on the market.

6. Fix any lights that are hanging out of their socket. Not only is this a hazard but it also makes the bathroom look neglected. Installing new lights in this instance is essential.

While your bathroom may only be a small part of your property, it is an area that is used everyday and therefore needs to be presented well when you go to market.

Why is Defining the Function of a Space Important?

July 16, 2021 by Naomi

When someone moves into a new property, one of the first things they think is ‘what will I use this space for?’

Some spaces are obvious…the kitchen is for cooking, the bedroom is for sleeping, the lounge room is for watching television. But as home stagers, we know there’s so much more to it than that!

The spaces we create don’t necessarily have to be practical for day to day living. By that, I mean we don’t need to include a ‘play room’ for kids or a spot for all the shoes at the front door.

It is important that we hold onto the hopeful mentality that buyers have and create a space that would be used in an ideal world (without the clutter!)

So, why is it so important to define the function of a space as a home stager?

Image via amberinteriordesign.com

When an empty property is put on the market, potential buyers are likely to become overwhelmed over the prospect of what they will use each space for. What room is better for a teenager and what one for a preteen? Should there be two living spaces? Is there enough room for a study space or home office?

Similarly, when a property is put on the market without professional property styling and using the seller’s current layout, the property is less likely to appeal to the buyer. Leaving the property in it’s original state will create elements of clutter and uncertainty about what space is to be used for what. This is because we adapt to how our families use a space and often don’t notice that there is anything out of the ordinary about this.

This is where the magic of home staging comes in.

When staging a property, it is up to the home stager to determine what a space is best used for. If there is an awkward space between two bedrooms, a home stager may place a study desk there. This is something potential buyers might not have thought of doing, but seeing the desk there allows for the space to seem larger, and like the desk was always supposed to go there.

Image via cocolapinedesign.com

The accessories and furniture home stagers use allow for a space to have a clear and obvious activity attached to it. The items in the bedroom show that the space is used for sleeping, and the same goes for the lounge room, study space and kitchen. Doing this allows for potential buyers to see the size of the space, as well as the ideal activity to be done in the space, creating a homely and ‘I could live here’ atmosphere for all potential buyers.

Image via myscandinavianhome.com

New Ideas for Your Home Staging Business

June 25, 2021 by Naomi

Figuring out how to stay above your competition can be difficult. Do you drop your prices? Do you become more like your competition? Do you change your core business structure?

The great news is that you don’t have to do any of the above!

In the age of technology, you can do a million and one things to switch up your business and create a unique element of interest that sets you above other home stagers in your area.

All that you have to decide is what ideas you are going to pursue! Here’s some to get you started:

Create a YouTube channel

It’s no secret that YouTube is the place to be at the moment. Creating a YouTube channel where you can give home staging advice, film the process of staging a property (you will need to get your clients permission for this), film your day to create a ‘Day in the Life of a Home Stager’ vlog or even just discussing key topics in the industry is a great way to promote your business, earn some extra money and create a whole new business venture.

Start a blog

This is just the written version of a YouTube video. Blogs are a great way to engage your audience and to share advice and your thoughts.

Warehouse tours

We know home staging involves a lot of storage and everyone stores things differently. Join up with some other local home stagers and host a warehouse tour on a weekend to allow for maximum creative flow, new ideas for storage and in turn bring the community closer together.

Create an online op-shop

it is inevitable that home staging businesses have a reasonable amount of stock turnover.. Instead of just throwing these pieces away, you can put them online. This can be connected to your home staging business website and act as a side project. Whenever an item of stock wont be used again just post it on the op-shop for someone else to buy. You can label the stock as pick up only between certain times. This is a great way to regularly clear out old or broken stock to make way for new items.

Host regular home staging meet ups

It is so important to have positive relationships with other home stagers in your area. Hosting a meet up every few months will allow for a community to form where you are able to discuss local issues in the home staging community and create other events such as educational events and charity events.

Want to join a community of likeminded professionals in the home staging industry? Check out our Professional Membership, so many amazing inclusions for a small monthly fee! Click below to find out more.

What To Look for in a Real Estate Agent

May 14, 2021 by Naomi

As a home stager, creating and maintaining a strong relationship with real estate agents is an essential part of generating referred business.

When you have a strong relationship with a real estate agent you will constantly have business flowing and you will always have a direct line of call if something goes wrong in a property.

Selecting the right real estate agents for your business can be difficult though. You may have a great relationship with one agent in the beginning but as your business grows that agent may not fit with your business anymore.

When choosing a real estate agent to maintain a strong relationship with, always look for someone who is:

An established real estate agent. Agents who are not new to selling properties are more likely to develop a relationship with a home stager as they are always looking to expand their connections
You want to be able to trust your real estate! As a home stager you want to know if the agent has any relationships with other home stagers and if they are referring their clients to you or to other home stagers
A people person. A real estate agent won’t get very far if they aren’t a people person. They must be approachable, friendly and great at negotiating
As a home stager it makes sense that you would want to have strong relationships with multiple real estate agents but a real estate agent doesn’t need a relationship with more than one home stager.
At the same level as you. There is no point forming a relationship with a real estate agent whose clients would not be able to afford your service. Make sure your agent has the same client demographic as you do to ensure maximum results

Once you have established a relationship with a real estate agent it is important to maintain that relationship. This can be achieved through a variety of ways such as:

Referring business. If a client gets their property staged but they aren’t sure what agent to go with yet, encourage them to go with the agent you are affiliated with
Buying ‘Thank You’ gifts. If your affiliate has a big win, sells a great property or smashes a record, giving them a small gift is a great way to maintain a relationship and show the agent that you are about their successes
Providing statistics. At a milestone during the year, be it yearly, half-yearly or quarterly, providing your affiliate with statistics about how your business is benefiting real estate is a great idea and a push to ensure that the agent will want to keep working with you

Having a strong relationship with a real estate agent is a great way ensure that you are constantly getting business and referring business. Having grounded relationships and affiliations with real estate agents is the best relationship that a home stager can have as it means that you are the first point of call to help that agent with a property.

Want to help grow your Home Staging Business further? Have you seen our Professional Membership? Membership with IIHS™ gives you 24/7 access to a group of amazing likeminded home staging professionals with a vast level of experience, monthly group calls, discounts, member only content and much much more. Check it out below.

How To: Increase your Efficiency As a Work-At-Home Entrepreneur

May 7, 2021 by Naomi

For an entrepreneur, time is an extremely valuable asset.

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but it is how you use those 24 hours that is the most important thing in the world for entrepreneurs. As humans, we can’t spend all of those 24 hours working, we have to eat, sleep, relax and spend time with our families. By the time all of that is done, we are only left with a limited amount of time to complete our mountains of work. We can’t waste time on unimportant details or on tasks that we can outsource.

As an entrepreneur, you understand the value of what a few minutes are, especially if you are working at home where it is very easy to become distracted. So, how do you become more productive as a work-at-home entrepreneur?

Have one email account

Sure, we all multiple email accounts for a variety of different things, but there are ways you can combine these accounts. It can be extremely time consuming to constantly be logging in and out of different email accounts. Using a single email account outlet such as Gmail allows you

to input all of your email accounts into the one account, and all you have to do is flick through a single screen to change what account you are looking at.

This way, you are able to filter through your business emails, personal emails and junk mail in a quick time frame.

Have a schedule

Having a timetable might make you feel like you are back in high school but it is one of the most effective ways to be productive at home. If you know that at 1pm you are meeting someone for lunch, having a list, or schedule, of what you want to complete before lunch will dramatically increase your efficiency.

Outsource

As an entrepreneur, chances are you have a mountain of things you need to get done, and, most of the time, these things you need to complete won’t lead anywhere. Don’t waste your time completing tedious tasks that someone else can do. The only way your business will thrive is if you spend your time focusing on what you need to focus on, not on the things you don’t.

Outsourcing can be done in countless ways such as hiring an assistant, outsourcing online or outsourcing overseas. You can outsource a single task or recurring tasks, it is completely up to you and the needs of your business.

Be productive

If you are spending 2pm-3pm everyday watching television, it is time to consider if you are really being as productive as you should be. Everyone needs to relax and to have down time, but as an entrepreneur it is important to try to keep as ‘normal’ a routine as possible. Working from around 9am-5pm is a great way to achieve this. Opt for spending your leisure time at night or on the weekends when everyone else is doing the same.

Entrepreneurs need time on their side to make their dream a reality. It is important to use the time you have, especially if you are working at home, to be the most productive and efficient as humanly possible to ensure your business is doing the best it can.