Product Description

Let Barb Schwarz----the creator of the Home Staging concept----show you what it takes to make it in the Home Staging industry.

In 1972, Barb Schwarz coined the term "Staging" to refer to the process of preparing a home for sale, and turned her idea into a brand new industry. Today, thanks to Schwarz's pioneering efforts, Home Staging has become a big business with enormous profit potential.

If you are thinking about starting a Home Staging business of your own or just want to improve upon an existing one, then Building a Successful Home Staging Business is the book for you. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this practical guide will show you exactly how to set up a Home Staging business, and help you run and maintain the business as it grows. Some of the issues outlined throughout these pages include:
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How to write a business plan, market your company, and make the most of your resources
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How to work through the consulting, bidding, and Staging processes
*

How to establish solid relationships with real estate agents and brokers
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How to obtain your Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) designation


Filled with in-depth insights, expert advice, and proven strategies that Schwarz has developed over the course of her stellar career, Building a Successful Home Staging Business will put you in the perfect position to profit from the many opportunities that exist in this dynamic market.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #339656 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 244 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470119358
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap

For more than thirty-five years, Barb Schwarz—creator of the Home Staging industry and pioneer of the concept—has Staged and sold thousands of homes. During this time, she has also educated well over one million real estate professionals about Staging, and helped more than 12,000 people attain the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) designation. Now, with Building a Successful Home Staging Business, Schwarz explains how you can set up your own Home Staging business and join the growing legions of creative men and women who are changing the way real estate is marketed and sold.

Home Stagers are an integral part of today's real estate industry. They give homes that fresh, picture-perfect look that helps sellers receive top dollar. Home Stagers are in high demand, and getting in on the ground floor of this business is an opportunity you don't want to miss. That's why Schwarz has created Building a Successful Home Staging Business.

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this reliable resource will show you how to launch an exciting, new career in the Home Staging industry, and help you run and maintain your business as it grows. Building on the proven concepts found in Schwarz's previous book, Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money, this new guide provides you with the various strategies and techniques needed to achieve unparalleled success in this field.

Throughout these pages, Schwarz reveals how she started her own successful Home Staging empire, and discusses the specific steps you need to take in order to make your own Home Staging business prosper, including how to:

• Write a business plan

• Give bids for Staging projects

• Market your business

• Follow basic Home Staging techniques

• Establish professional business practices

• Establish and nurture relationships with real estate agents and brokers

• Obtain your ASP designation

• And much more

Home Staging works! It is a creative process that delivers tangible results and benefits both sellers and buyers. Whether you are thinking about starting a Home Staging business or want to improve upon an existing one, this timely guide can help you master the essential elements of a successful Home Staging business.

From the Back Cover

Let Barb Schwarz——the creator of the Home Staging concept——show you what it takes to make it in the Home Staging industry.

In 1972, Barb Schwarz coined the term "Staging" to refer to the process of preparing a home for sale, and turned her idea into a brand new industry. Today, thanks to Schwarz's pioneering efforts, Home Staging has become a big business with enormous profit potential.

If you are thinking about starting a Home Staging business of your own or just want to improve upon an existing one, then Building a Successful Home Staging Business is the book for you. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this practical guide will show you exactly how to set up a Home Staging business, and help you run and maintain the business as it grows. Some of the issues outlined throughout these pages include:

• How to write a business plan, market your company, and make the most of your resources

• How to work through the consulting, bidding, and Staging processes

• How to establish solid relationships with real estate agents and brokers

• How to obtain your Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) designation

Filled with in-depth insights, expert advice, and proven strategies that Schwarz has developed over the course of her stellar career, Building a Successful Home Staging Business will put you in the perfect position to profit from the many opportunities that exist in this dynamic market.

About the Author
Barb Schwarz is the creator of Home Staging. She has taught her Staging concepts to more than one million people around the world since 1985. As President and CEO of StagedHomes.com, she has more than thirty-five years' experience in Staging and has Staged and sold more than 5,000 homes. Schwarz is the creator of the Accredited Staging Professional Course and ASP Designation and Certification. She holds the coveted Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association and has a weekly radio show in Seattle, Staging Life with Barb. Schwarz is also the author of Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money (published by Wiley).

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
Although there are some good tips that the average person may not consider, I found this book to be more of a membership drive for the author's "professional designation". We are told over and over again that the home staging concept was the author's original idea, almost every page she reminds us of this. She even goes so far as to claim the invention of the professional portfolio by renaming it a "career book". She also lays claim to the invention of several phrases she uses, commonly used phrases like "let me tell you how I work". It's too bad that she did not spend as much time focusing on her readers than she did on tooting her own horn. It also makes one wonder how valid any "designation" is when all it takes is a 3 day course and the author's blessing to earn her coveted "ASP" designation. Who regulates this field? If there is no regulatory body, it's just tacking some initials after one's name to sound important. For those unfortunate enough to buy into it, they get a worthless designation, but I'm sure the author is profiting well!

Less than expected....
I waited with excitement for this book. Unfortunately I am so disappointed, the book is so self-promoting. I skipped much of the content searching for something, rich, creative and new - it just isn't there.

Needs more content
I want to start the review by disclosing that I am an Accredited Staging Professional trained by Barb Schwarz's company Staged Homes.

I can sum up the book by dividing it into three parts.

The book is about 1/3 self promotion about Barb Schwarz and taking her classes. Even though I have taken her class, I know other excellent home stagers that have taken other classes or some that have not taken training classes at all.

About 1/3 of the book is about starting a business. This is a critical part of success. I think other more indepth books on starting a business and marketing it would give you more detailed information.

The other 1/3 is helpful home staging industry specific tips. Most of them are common sense. If you do not know you need to form relationships with real estate agents - this is not a business for you. I think the sample documents in the back of the book are helpful for a new home stager.

So, Yes parts of this book are helpful but it is not the only resource you need.