Before Staging

Creative talent of course is a big part of our lives. I believe though that having a tough skin is the number one asset that we need to succeed.

A few months ago I was asked to Stage a home. I had talked with the sellers and they hired me to come in and Stage their existing furnishings. Although the wife knew that she would leave her HOME that morning when she went to work and would be coming home to a different place, she was mad at me the minute she stepped in the door.

I called her that evening, her husband said “she doesn’t want to talk to you”. WOW…good thing I had on my “tough skin” suit.

What he said next was surprising. “Can you come back next week to help us Stage the rest of the house?”

They knew that the Staging I did was correct. She just couldn’t talk about it.

We Stagers MUST develop a “tough skin”. Going into these projects I know that I know that I know what needs to be done.  Often I feel like a parent. Sometimes we need to take the proper steps to help them SELL. Stagers must make the difficult choices.

We Stage for the target market coming in….NOT the seller.

After Staging

The home did sell in 26 days.  She did send me a “thank you” card with an apology for her behavior. I understood her “pain” but I knew what needed to be done in order to help them sell. After all that is my JOB….that is why I am a professional.

So if you have ever felt “wounded”, that’s okay. The sellers are counting on us not to cave-in to pressure but to make the tough choices and do our job.

My best,

DesAnn Collins

DSA Staging Director