While model homes usually have the advantage of being new as an appealing feature, a furnished home allows sellers to focus on the great features of the house while helping buyers see its potential. But builders and developers are not necessarily interior decorators, so hiring a home staging consultant is to their advantage. Here's how you can start your own model home staging business.
Set up your business. When you've determined you have a market, it's time to put the foundation of the business in place. The Small Business Administration is a great resource for tips on business startup. It provides help with tasks such as:
1. Setting up the structure of your business. Will you work as a sole proprietor or set up a Limited Liability Company? Do you have a partner and need to set up a partnership?
2. Getting permits and licenses as established by your city or county for businesses.
3. Setting up office space. If you'll be working from home, create a space that is separate from the rest of the house. If you'll be renting an office, try to find space near builders or developers to make access to them (and them to you) easy.
4. Setting up your pricing structure and billing methods.
5. Determining how you will work. Will you rent and supply the furniture? Will that expense be passed to the client or will it be built into the fee structure?
6. Creating a contract and other forms needed to do business.
Other tasks you should take care of include:
1. Getting a business phone number. People can't hire you if they can't contact you.
2. Ordering business cards.
Do a market survey. A model home staging business is a great business idea only if there are people who will buy your services. So before investing too much time in the business, make sure you have potential clients who are willing and able to hire you. Contact individuals in the real estate industry as they are not only the ones who have access to model homes, but according to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, home staging is part of the real estate industry not home decorating. Find developers, builders and Realtors who work with builders, and ask questions about what they'd like to see in a staging business and what would they pay to have someone stage their homes.
Create your marketing plan and portfolio. In the previous step, you created business card, but that's not all you need to let people know about you. Decide the best methods for getting clients such as brochures, referrals, advertising, home staging articles in builder magazines, etc. Have something to present to potential clients to show the quality of your work as well as testimonials (if you don't have them yet, be sure to ask for them when you start getting clients).
Inventory your credentials. Are you a certified home staging professional? Do you have a background in interior design? Have you worked with Realtors to stage homes that are on the market? Do you have a portfolio of your home staging or decor work? Potential clients will want to know about your skills and experience before they hire you, so pull this information together.
Contact potential clients directly. While marketing materials can be a big help, you don't want to rely on them alone to bring in work. Contact the people you surveyed in step 2 and let them know you're in business. Explain how their input helped create a business that will in turn help them. Ask for an opportunity to show them what you can do to help sell their homes. Perhaps offer a discount for having helped with the survey.
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