Does a Home Stager Keep up with Current Trends and Information?
As a Home Stager, I like to keep up with current trends. I also like to keep informed and on the cutting edge of the Home Staging industry. By keeping myself educated, and networking at design events, I use this knowledge to create up-to-date, beautiful spaces for my home selling clients.
So what have I been up to lately? Well, last year my Stager friend, Wendy Casey, of A-List Home Staging and I attended the first ever Real Estate Staging Association's Conference. I was able to meet and compare notes with other Home Stagers from all over North America. What's working for them? What's not working? How our markets are different or similar. I listened and absorbed so much information from speakers and panels at the Conference and left with a to-do list a mile long. I met some celebrity Stagers, like Matthew Finlayson of the T.V. show, The Stagers, and was inspired by the motivational speakers at the Conference also. I reconnected with my uber cool CSP Instructor, Jackson West, as well as CSP president, Christine Rae.
Not a home show went by that I didn't atttend this year. I attended the Vancouver Home & Garden shows and the Interior Desing Show West show. It's incredibly eye-opening to see the latest merchandise being brought in by local design stores. Seeing the latest styes, colours and trends is very helpful. Although home staging isn't decorating, we can help keep the look up-to-date. This year we were lucky to listen to Sarah Richardson and her side-kick Tommy talk about their various T.V. shows, Design, Inc., Sarah's House, plus design tips and tricks. Sarah Richardson also talked about her new line of paint colours, through Para Paints. I have to say, these new colours are amazing, and I've already used some of them.
It's really important to keep educating yourself with the latest in the Home Staging industry. I attended the PRES Home Staging Annual Conference this year. Dana Smithers, President of PRES, did an amazing job of organizing this conference, and I look forward seeing here again, at the RESA Conference, where she will be part of the expert panel. We listened to a variety of experts in the marketing, business coaching, branding and computers and kept ourselves informed on areas where we could build our businesses and take them to the next level. It's also very important to keep taking Home Staging refresher courses. I attended the CSP home staging course here in Vancouver, taught by Jackson West, for a second time. It was great to be reminded of certain important aspects of home staging, and to hear about new developments. It was also great to meet the stagers entering into the business, and making new friendships.
Another event I attended this year was a book launch by Kimberly Seldon, a Toronto Interior Designer and celebrity. Invitees included local interior designers, decorators and Home Stagers. I attended with my good staging friend, Irene Huva of Interio Deco. In fact, we've attended quite a few events together! Kimberly Seldon's new book, The Business of Design, explains the pitfalls and successes to properly running your design business. I will be seeing Kimberly Seldon again at this year's CSP Convention, the day after the RESA Convention, and can't wait to hear more from this design expert!
Colour is so important for a Home Stager. On the left is a photo of Janice Lindsay, who has written a book called All About Colour, and represents Pittsurgh Paints. Janice Lindsay recently returned from a big Interior Design show in London, England, and was sharing her photos of this event, with a focus on the latest colours used in design in England. Another colour event I attended was the launch of Vancouver's first Para Paint store. We were wined and dined, and also given a tour of the new store, as well as information on the Para Paints line, including complimentary fan decks and information. I will be better able to help clients with their colour needs, and also enjoyed attending these events.
Keeping up to date in the Home Staging industry is key to helping clients stage their homes for sale. Our designs stay current, and don't become stale or predictable. We want to wow buyers, and there's nothing better that a Home Stager who is on the cutting edge of new information and design trends. Next week, I will be attending the second RESA Real Estate Staging Association Conference, and am really excited with all the information that will be offered. I'll keep you posted!
